Download This PaperConsumers’ Decaying Generosity Can Sustain a Profit-Oriented Firm Dependent on Social Preferences
48 Pages Posted: 13 Sep 2018 Last revised: 18 Oct 2018
Date Written: August 30, 2018
Abstract
Can social preferences sustain a for-profit company? We analyze panel data tracking payments of 57,196 customers for five years from an online retail firm whose profitability relies on consumers’ altruism. Most customers are generous and remain so over time. However, their generosity slowly declines as they gain purchase experience over time but does not reach zero. Furthermore, stingier, yet loyal consumers contribute cumulatively more to the firm’s long-term profitability than more generous consumers. These results suggest that altruism can not only sustain a firm in market contexts, but it can also be exploited to generate profits for the firm.
Keywords: Behavioral Pricing, Social Preferences, Consumer Altruism, Long-term Social Preferences
JEL Classification: D12, D64, D91
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Minah Jung (Contact Author)
New York University (NYU) - Department of Marketing ( email )
Henry Kaufman Ctr
44 W 4 St.
New York, NY
United States
Xiao Liu
New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business ( email )
Suite 9-160
New York, NY
United States
Leif D. Nelson
University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business ( email )
545 Student Services Building, #1900
2220 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States
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