We develop and test a model of social comparison in which individuals gain status through pro-social behavior (competitive altruism) and in which they endogenously choose the reference group and associated reference standard involved in signaling status (reference group selection). In our...

A unified approach to the problems of bargaining with a reference point and of bargaining with claims is addressed. Then, two solutions are reexamined from this perspective: the lexicographic egalitarian and the lexicographic claim-egalitarian. New characterization results are also provided.

A growing economic literature recognizes and deals with the fact that economic agents' utility and well-being is not solely determined by absolute achievements, but also by achievements relative to a reference standard or reference group. In this literature it is assumed that the reference...