11. “Shared Joy is Double Joy”

One of the most iconic phrases on sharing is the Swedish proverb “Delad glädje är dubbel glädje; delad sorg är halverad sorg.”—“Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” The focus in this chapter will be on the positive side of this saying, on the value-multiplying effect of sharing, which is a mechanism that connects reciprocity with efficiency. Despite the widely known and accepted general benefits that come from sharing as an ethical deed, attempts at operationalizing, quantifying, and testing–relative to its anticipated potential—are few and far between. This chapter thus contains three parts. First, the theory around sharing, reciprocity and value multiplication, with the review of the literature, as well as proposed systems of equations inclusive. Second, an empirical section, wherein the statements (through the remote connections drawn) will be tested on data. Third and finally, a discussion of the findings ensues, proposing behavioural foundations as reasons for the phenomenon of sharing as value multiplication, including an outlook in the form of further research opportunities.