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on Evolutionary Economics |
| By: | Rusch, Hannes (RS: GSBE UM-BIC, Microeconomics & Public Economics, RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research); Vostroknutov, Alexander (RS: GSBE UM-BIC, RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, Microeconomics & Public Economics) |
| Abstract: | Social norms have become a conceptual cornerstone in the study of human decision making across the social sciences. The functions of social norms in guiding individual and collective decision-making have been extensively scrutinized empirically, too. However, possible evolutionary origins of the psychological mechanisms required to carry out these functions are less well understood. In particular, trajectories from individually adaptive to socially functional heuristics for norm formation have rarely been studied. Here, we trace such a trajectory. We present a model that allows for the comparison of two heuristics broadly applicable across individual and social decision contexts: ‘rejoicing’ own achievements vs. ‘regretting’ missed opportunities. We find that (i) both perform better than the homo oeconomicus benchmark in individual decision problems under plausible ecological assumptions and (ii) each is adaptive in different environments. We argue that observation (i) provides a potent microfoundation for social norms as a product of co-optation of individually evolved heuristics, i.e., a reduction of social norm formation to the evolution of individual traits. Moreover, observation (ii) lends itself to empirical testing, thus laying the ground for a new wave of studies in the literature fascinated with human norm psychology. |
| Date: | 2024–09–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:umagsb:2024011 |
| By: | de Wita, Juliette; Beugelsdijk, Sjoerd |
| Abstract: | Despite the continued popularity of cross national culture research across social sciences, the use of multidimensional value based models is not without discussion. A key issue concerns the observation that value diversity within countries may be larger than between countries, giving rise to a theoretical and empirical tension between the national cultural level and the individual level. This paper examines the individual and national cultural level simultaneously using a novel typology of norms and values. Leveraging pooled World Values Survey and European Values Study data of 137, 505 individuals that live in 76 countries across the world, we find three archetypes that capture individuals' values and norms in a cross-country setting. Each individual is characterized by a configuration of archetypes. Findings illustrate that each archetype is associated with different socio-economic demographics. Moreover, we observe marked differences between the probability of finding any of the three individual archetypes in a country. The paper illustrates how a typological approach can advance our understanding of cultural differences across countries, while acknowledging individual level value diversity. |
| Keywords: | values, norms, international comparison, culture, archetype, typology |
| JEL: | D02 P50 Z13 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1483 |
| By: | Garcia-Hombrados, Jorge (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid); Novak, Lindsey (Reed College) |
| Abstract: | A sizable share of marriages in several Asian and African countries are initiated by the man abducting the woman he wishes to wed. In this paper, we use quantitative and qualitative methods to characterize the practice of abduction marriage in Ethiopia. We first present the results from in-depth qualitative surveys with community leaders and abducted women in the Gambella region of Ethiopia to gain a deeper understanding of how the practice functions in these communities. These interviews suggest that abduction is typically used to overcome the refusal of the woman's family. Second, we use Demographic and Health Survey along with ethnographic data to characterize women and ethnic groups affected by this practice in Ethiopia. Finally, we empirically examine the central hypothesis about the persistence of this practice and find evidence consistent with the hypothesis that men often use abduction to improve bargaining power in marriage negotiations and reduce the size of the bride price payment. Specifically, we demonstrate that droughts - a proxy for income shocks in this setting - increase the probability of abduction marriage only for women from ethnic groups that traditionally exchange a bride price. |
| Keywords: | abduction marriage, marriage markets, social norms, bride price |
| JEL: | D1 D7 I3 J1 O1 Z1 |
| Date: | 2024–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17242 |