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on Social Norms and Social Capital |
| By: | Leonardo Becchetti (University of Tor Vergata); Melania Michetti (Fondazione ENI Enrico Mattei and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Milano) |
| Abstract: | Economic interactions are often accused of being neutral, or even of generating adverse effects, not only on the social fabric but also on a factor (social capital) which is regarded as the foundation of both socio-economic activity and prosperity. In this paper we document how a particular form of economic interaction (affiliation of marginalised producers to a first level association and to the fair trade import channel) has indeed positive effects on a specific type of social capital. Our findings on a sample of Kenyan farmers show that years of affiliation to Fair Trade significantly affect the participation in elections and the trust placed in trade unions, political parties and the government, net of the impact of other controls and after accounting for the selection bias effect. This implies that consumers buying fair trade products contribute to reinforce both social cohesion and the institutions in countries in which these variables are fundamental in creating room for manoeuvre for pro-poor (equity plus growth) policies. |
| Keywords: | Fair trade, social capital, impact study |
| JEL: | O19 O22 D64 |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2008-88&r=soc |
| By: | Benno Torgler; María A.García-Valiñas; Alison Macintyre |
| Abstract: | We explore whether environmental motivation affects environmental behavior by focusing on volunteering. The paper first introduces a theoretical model of volunteering in environmental organizations. In a next step, it tests the hypothesis working with a large micro data set covering 32 countries from both Western and Eastern Europe using several different proxies to measure environmental motivation. Our results indicate that environmental motivation has a strong impact on individuals’ voluntary engagement in environmental organizations. A higher level of environmental motivation due to higher environmental moral standards may lead to a stronger voluntary involvement in environmental organizations. |
| Keywords: | environmental participation; environmental motivation; environmental morale; pro-environmental attitudes; social capital |
| JEL: | D11 H41 H26 H73 D64 |
| Date: | 2008–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cra:wpaper:2008-19&r=soc |
| By: | Bruno S. Frey; David A. Savage; Benno Torgler |
| Abstract: | This paper explored the determinants of survival in a life and death situation created by an external and unpredictable shock. We are interested to see whether pro-social behaviour matters in such extreme situations. We therefore focus on the sinking of the RMS Titanic as a quasi-natural experiment do provide behavioural evidence which is rare in such a controlled and life threatening event. The empirical results support that social norm such as “women and children first” survive in such an environment. We also observe that women of reproductive age have a higher probability of surviving among women. On the other hand, we observe that crew members used their information advantage and their better access to resources (e.g. lifeboats) to generate a higher probability of surviving. The paper also finds that passenger class, fitness, group size, and cultural background matter. |
| Keywords: | Decision under Pressure; Altruism; Social Norms; Interdependent Preferences; Excess of Demand |
| JEL: | D63 D64 D71 D81 |
| Date: | 2008–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cra:wpaper:2008-21&r=soc |
| By: | Jürgen Maurer; André Meier (Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging (MEA)) |
| Abstract: | Recent theoretical contributions have suggested peer-group effects as a potential explanation for several puzzles in macroeconomics, but their empirical relevance for intertemporal consumption choice is an open question. We derive an extension of the standard life-cycle model that allows for consumption externalities. In this framework, we propose a social multiplier approach to distinguish true externalities from merely correlated effects. Estimating our model using US panel data, we find strong predictable co-movement of household consumption within peer groups. Although much of this co-movement reflects correlated effects only, there is statistically significant evidence for moderate consumption externalities across several plausible peer-group specifications. |
| JEL: | C23 D12 D91 Z13 |
| Date: | 2008–09–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mea:meawpa:08167&r=soc |
| By: | Matthias Sutter |
| Abstract: | Charness et al. (2007b) have shown that group membership has a strong effect on individual decisions in strategic games when group membership is salient through payoff commonality. In this comment I show that their findings also apply to non-strategic decisions, even when no outgroup exists, and I relate the effects of group membership on individual decisions to joint decision making in teams. I find in an investment experiment that individual decisions with salient group membership are largely the same as team decisions. This finding bridges the literature on team decision making and on group membership effects. |
| Keywords: | Individual Behavior, Group Membership, Team Decision Making, Experiment |
| JEL: | C91 C92 D71 |
| Date: | 2008–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inn:wpaper:2008-23&r=soc |
| By: | Andrew E. Clark; Andreas Knabe; Steffen Rätzel |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the relationship between the subjective well-being of both the employed and unemployed and regional unemployment rates. While employed men suffer from regional unemployment, unemployed men are significantly less negatively affected. This is consistent with a social-norm effect of unemployment in Germany. We find no evidence of such an offsetting effect for women. |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pse:psecon:2008-45&r=soc |
| By: | yamamura, eiji |
| Abstract: | This paper uses Japanese prefecture-level data for the years 1979 and 1996 to examine how the relationship between government size and life satisfaction changes. The major findings are: (1) Government size has a detrimental effect on life satisfaction when government size impedes economic growth in the economic development stage. However, this effect clearly decreases when government size is not associated with economic growth in the developed stage. (2) Particularized trust is positively associated with life satisfaction of females but not with that of males. Such a tendency becomes more remarkable in the developed stage. These results are unchanged when the endogeneity bias caused by local government size and proxies of trust are controlled for. |
| Keywords: | Life satisfaction; Government size; Trust; Growth |
| JEL: | H50 H11 I31 |
| Date: | 2008–09–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:10835&r=soc |
| By: | Tom Truyts |
| Abstract: | Social distinction or status is an important motivation of human behaviour. This paper provides a selective survey of recent advances in the economic analysis of the origins and consequences of social status. First, a selection of empirical research from a variety of scientific disciplines is discussed to underpin the further theoretical analysis. I then consider the origins and determinants of tastes for status, discuss the endogenous derivation of such a preferences for relative standing and assess the different formalisations these preferences. Subsequently, the consequences of preferences for status are studied for a variety of problems and settings. The last section discusses a number of implications of status concerns for normative economics and public policy. |
| Date: | 2008–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ete:ceswps:ces0821&r=soc |