3698.3: Beachball

[jen_aside]

[seemingly nonsensical subject line where I don't feel like thinking up a better one]

Actually, this is a fantastic point thatAccording to Waldfogel, gifts on average "generate 20 percent less satisfaction than items we buy for ourselves." The "deadweight loss" increases in inverse proportion to acquaintanceship because the less well you know the

Comments

[digoraccoon]

Despite the informality of cash, It is the most efficient gift. It works better on kids though. I guess because money feel like it has more value to them as they have no bills and debts to pay.

[jen_aside]

This is actually an observable fact across the board: The less of something you have, the more valuable it is. Money, autographed books by your favourite author, "original" pieces of artwork [why the most vitriolic about so-called art theft seem to be the creators who don't have much to steal, and by "steal" I mean the pose or hair colour is kind of alike]...

It's also why poor people feel more identifiable and rich people feel kind of like greedy jerks, and why it feels nice to see poor brought up and rich taken down a notch [I think--I can't explain certain GOP practices, though].

[digoraccoon]

Yes, that is always true, at least in an environment where all other things being equal. There are exceptions (as you pointed out).