The currency of reciprocity - gift-exchange in the workplace

Arbeitspapier

What determines reciprocity in employment relations? We conducted a controlled field experiment to measure the extent to which monetary and non-monetary gifts affect workers' performance. We find that nonmonetary gifts have a much stronger impact than monetary gifts of equivalent value. We also observe that when workers are offered the choice, they prefer receiving the money but reciprocate as if they received a nonmonetary gift. This result is consistent with the common saying, 'it's the thought that counts.' We underline this point by showing that also monetary gifts can effectively trigger reciprocity if the employer invests more time and effort into the gift's presentation.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: KIT Working Paper Series in Economics ; No. 25

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Field Experiments ; Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs: General
• Subject: field experiment ; reciprocity ; gift exchange ; non-monetary gifts ; in-kind gifts

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Kube, Sebastian ; Maréchal, Michel André ; Puppe, Clemens
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre (ECON)
• (where): Karlsruhe
• (when): 2011

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.5445/IR/1000022999
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/45629
• URN: urn:nbn:de:swb:90-229999
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET