According to the article "Is a More Generous Society Possible?", when researchers compared "needs-based transfer" (generalized) and "account keeping" (balanced) styles of reciprocity among the Maasai, they found that: both were equally effective in growing cattle herds during drought account-keeping/balanced reciprocity was more effective in keeping cattle alive, as more people were willing to assist with the certainty that they would be "paid back" needs-based transfer/generalized reciprocity resulted in cattle surviving longer and greater wealth equality neither was very successful at keeping cattle alive, the best strategy was to pay into an insurance program