Motives for Private Income Transfers
检验了私人收入转移的两种动机：利他主义和交换，发现观察到的转移模式更符合交换动机，这对公共转移项目对经济福利分配的影响有重要启示。
Private income transfers are becoming increasingly recognized as a key aspect of the U.S. economy. The majority of private income transfers occur inter vivos (i.e., between living persons), but very little is known about this type of transfer behavior. This paper tests alternative hypotheses concerning motivation for inter vivos transfers. Two motives are considered: altruism and exchange. Evidence presented here casts doubt on the altruistic model of transfer behavior. Observed patterns for inter vivos transfers are more consistent with exchange-related motives. This finding has important implications for the effects of public transfer programs on the distribution of economic well-being. Copyright 1987 by University of Chicago Press.