I agree with John's analysis of charity and signalling. I add only that a more plausible reason than the two that John gave for why people don't mow lawns is that lawn mowing is a private good and racing a public good. In other words, I can collect a donation from many people for racing but few people will pay me to mow my own lawn (or anyone else's)!
Alex Alex Tabarrok Department of Economics MSN 1D3, Carow Hall George Mason University Fairfax, VA, 22030 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel. 703-993-2314
