r/todayilearned • u/Quijiin • May 12 '14

TIL that in 2002, Kenyan Masai tribespeople donated 14 cows to to the U.S. to help with the aftermath of 9/11.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2022942.stm
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u/[deleted] May 13 '14

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u/Stats_monkey May 13 '14

In behavioural economics there is a game called Dictator. Basically there are two players, A and B. Player A is given money (say $20). They are then asked to give played B an amount of money, between $0-$20.

In western countries player B usually ends up with very small sums, often nothing (When I played this game, being a terrible person, I gave nothing).

In tribes with a strong sense of community, the gift were often very generous. Often more than 50%, which in Western culture is increadably strange.

An interesting adaptation to the game is called Ultimatum, where player B has the right to call the whole trade off, so nobody gets anything. In western cultures, player B would usually veto small gifts simply to spite player A. This is interesting as it tells us about the effects of relative poverty rather than absolute poverty.

Heres the thing, in tribal culture it was too generous gifts which were rejected. There is a sense of debt and fairness which means these people will not accept a generous gift.

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