nep-cul 2011-02-19 papers

on Cultural Economics

Issue of 2011‒02‒19
two papers chosen by
Roberto Zanola
University Amedeo Avogadro

Attracted but Unsatisfied: The Effects of Arousing Contents on Television Consumption Choices By Luca Stanca; Marco Gui; Marcello Gallucci
Inequality and Growth: The Role of Beliefs and Culture By Strieborny Martin

Attracted but Unsatisfied: The Effects of Arousing Contents on Television Consumption Choices

By:	Luca Stanca; Marco Gui; Marcello Gallucci
Abstract:	This paper investigates experimentally the effects of arousing contents on viewing choices and satisfaction in television consumption. We test the hypothesis that the portrayal of arousing content combines high attraction and low satisfaction and is thus responsible for sub- optimal choices. In our experiment, subjects can choose among three programs during a viewing session. In the experimental condition, one of the three programs portrays a violent verbal conflict, whereas in the control condition the same program portrays a calm debate. A post-experimental questionnaire is used to assess subjects' satisfaction with the programs and the overall viewing experience. The results support the hypothesis: the presence of arousing content causes sub- jects to watch more of a given program, although they experience lower content-specific and overall satisfaction. Arousing contents also significantly increase the discrepancy between actual and desired viewing.
Keywords:	Rational Choice, Audience, Television, Satisfaction, Arousing content, Laboratory Experiments.
JEL:	D63 C78 C91
Date:	2011–02
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mib:wpaper:203&r=cul

Inequality and Growth: The Role of Beliefs and Culture

By:	Strieborny Martin
Abstract:	In egalitarian countries people believe that luck rather than hard work determines success in life and expect their government to provide both economic growth and social equity. This leads to a stronger dynamic interplay between government interventions, inequality and growth within such countries. The presented results thus confirm the importance of cultural factors and economic beliefs in shaping the inequality-growth link. More fundamentally, the paper demonstrates that cultural background does not only influence the long-run economic outcomes, but can also affect the joint dynamics of real economic variables within countries over time.
Keywords:	culture; inequality; growth
JEL:	O15 O40 P16 Z1
Date:	2010–11
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lau:crdeep:10.15&r=cul

This nep-cul issue is ©2011 by Roberto Zanola. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranty. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part for any purpose. If distributed in part, please include this notice.

General information on the NEP project can be found at http://nep.repec.org. For comments please write to the director of NEP, Marco Novarese at <director@nep.repec.org>. Put “NEP” in the subject, otherwise your mail may be rejected.

NEP’s infrastructure is sponsored by the School of Economics and Finance of Massey University in New Zealand.