Consider the “take $1 from each of 10k people at random and give it all to another person chosen at random” example. The benefit there seems to be relative/positional but it’s not a case of signaling.
While I’m not in a position to iron this out right now, this line of reasoning suggests any good is a positional good if it’s redistributed, and I’m pretty sure that doesn’t fly.
Consider the “take $1 from each of 10k people at random and give it all to another person chosen at random” example. The benefit there seems to be relative/positional but it’s not a case of signaling.
The good in question is presumably money in this case, and I can see an (abstruse) argument for money-as-signalling.
Then substitute something directly useful.
While I’m not in a position to iron this out right now, this line of reasoning suggests any good is a positional good if it’s redistributed, and I’m pretty sure that doesn’t fly.
Agreed.