Por que damos gorjeta? - Continuação Setembro 13, 2007
Posted by claudio in Freakonomics, Sushi, economia, economia das gorjetas, microeconomia.trackback
Na verdade nem é tanto uma continuação. É que os comentários lá estão muito bons e o post tornou-se o hit do dia. Quer chegar lá rápido? Clique aqui. A propósito, claro, alguém já escreveu sobre o tema. Eis o link e o resumo do artigo (o autor é o Ofer H. Azar):
The Social Norm of Tipping: Does it Improve Social Welfare?
Some economists believe that social norms are created to improve welfare where the market fails. I show that tipping is such a norm, using a model in which a waiter chooses service quality and then a customer chooses the tip. The customer’s utility depends on the social norm about tipping and feelings such as embarrassment and fairness. The equilibrium depends on the exact social norm: higher sensitivity of tips to service quality (according to the norm) yields higher service quality and social welfare. Surprisingly, high tips for low quality may also increase service quality and social welfare.
Ah, sim, dois lembretes: (a) Sushi e (b) Vergonha nacional.
I have not seen any mention of that the fact that many people (who in the past were usually men) give generous tips because it makes them feel superior and also it is a means of showing off their largesse. I have seen men do this almost as if they own the entire restaurant, including the hapless waitress. I have seen rich men enter restaurants, and the owner and the chef come over to the table to bow and scrape. What is the real socio-economic function of that?
It is much more a “I am powerful, and you are not” type of thing.
Please, never forget the psychological aspects of economics.
Sure, money gives power, but ego stroking is more ephemeral.
Sorry, please delete the first “that” in my preceding comment.
I won’t delete it. I am powerful and you are not.
Kidding..