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on Cultural Economics |
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Issue of 2018‒04‒02
three papers chosen by Roberto Zanola Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Christian Peukert; Imke Reimers |
| Abstract: | Digital technology has allowed inventors to circumvent traditional intermediaries and directly reach consumers, which may affect licensing outcomes and efficiency in the market for ideas. We study these impacts theoretically and empirically in the book publishing industry, where the number of new books available to consumers has almost doubled after the advent of digital self- publishing platforms. Using data on over 90,000 license deals between authors and publishers from 2002 to 2015, we identify disintermediation-related changes in this market from quasi-experimental variation across product types over time. Consistent with digital self-publishing improving an author’s bargaining position, we find that authors get substantially more favorable license deals. We further show that ex-ante license fees reflect ex-post demand more accurately. This is consistent with additional entry generating more information about a product type’s realized appeal. In markets in which product appeal is difficult to predict, such improvements in the information environment can have large impacts on efficiency and welfare. |
| Keywords: | disintermediation, innovation, book publishing, natural experiment |
| JEL: | D22 D83 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6880&r=cul |
| By: | Brigette Piazza (Ryerson University) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to identify common, daily occurrences of the filtration of media (i.e: news media, entertainment media), and how the practices of these filtrations influence society and our ideologies towards others. The research presented will demonstrate how by accepting these ideologies, we as a society are allowing victimized voices to go unheard and ultimately contributing to systems of oppression. This paper will analyze multiple media cases such as violence and racism, rape, mental illness, etc. and will contribute to the understanding of how oppression does not have to necessarily be considered physical and/or verbal acts, but also can be as simple as accepting the historical and evolutionary biases, representations and/or ideologies to be true. |
| Keywords: | Media, Filtration, Racism, Violence, Mental Illness, Rape, Oppression, Biases, Ideologies |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:5908008&r=cul |
| By: | Klaus Gründler; Sebastian Köllner |
| Abstract: | We show that culture and diversity strongly influence welfare systems around the globe. To disentangle culture from institutions, we employ regional instruments as well as data on the prevalence of the pathogen Toxoplasma Gondii, linguistic differences, and the frequency of blood types. The generosity of the welfare system is higher in countries with loose family ties and individualistic attitudes, high prevalence of trust and tolerance, and low acceptance of unequally distributed power. Apart from their direct effects, these traits also exert indirect impact by influencing the transmission of inequality to redistribution. Finally, we show that redistribution and diversity are linked non-linearly: moderate levels of diversity impede redistribution, while higher levels offset the negative effect. |
| Keywords: | culture, redistribution, diversity |
| JEL: | H11 I38 Z10 D31 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6856&r=cul |