Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences: Economic Nature of the Phenomenon “Reebie” in Russian Student Community

Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / Economic Nature of the Phenomenon “Reebie” in Russian Student Community

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Issue: Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2020 13 (4)
Authors: Ryzhkova, Marina V.; Alimova, Darja V.
Contact information: Ryzhkova, Marina V.: National Research Tomsk State University 36 Lenin, Tomsk, 634050, Russia; National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University 30 Lenin, Tomsk, 634050, Russia; ; ORCID: OCRID: 0000-0002-0107-8016; Alimova, Darja V.: National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University 30 Lenin, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
Keywords: Behavioral economics; economic goods; non-economic goods; free goods; “freebie”; “freeloader”; economic costs; market surplus; morality; ethics
Abstract: The article is devoted to the problems of behavioral economics in terms of formation of the attitude and perception of goods with zero price in their special form – “freebie” (or in Russian – “haljava”) as a special form of free (or almost free) good. The study showed the relationship between economic and non-economic goods. The definition of “freebie” is given as a situation of receiving a good in which an individual (recipient) bears zero or insignificant (inconspicuous) economic or physical costs with a perceived high assessment of the usefulness of the good. Three situations were considered: the recipient of a good is a consumer, an employee and a special case of employee – a student obtaining grades in the educational process. Market surpluses in these situations were analyzed in terms of “freebie” and “pure freebie”. An in-depth interview was conducted among students which revealed that 95% of respondents drew a parallel between “freebie” and luck but “freebie” can be prepared to. An interesting finding is the fact that parents’ money is perceived starting from the third year as a “freebie”, while in younger courses it perceived as the help of parents. When studying the issue of morality in a situation “freebie”, it turned out that if a “freebie” does not harm anyone, then this phenomenon is allowed and, moreover, is compared with entrepreneurial activity. Such phenomena as “free money” and “freeloader” as a stable “free” strategy were also analyzed. The latter was negatively judged by respondents. In conclusion, questions are raised for further research of the phenomenon
Pages: 591–599
DOI: 10.17516/1997-1370-0528
Paper at repository of SibFU: https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/128397

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