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on Social Norms and Social Capital |
| By: | Mohammad Yunus |
| Abstract: | The concept of social business flows from a firm conviction that profit or benefit is not the only motivating factor for an entrepreneur and an entrepreneur can also be motivated by social goals and enjoy success. Social business, as advocated by the author, is essentially a non-loss, non-dividend business aimed at social objectives like education, health, environment, etc. Yet another type of social business is business that is profitable but is owned by the poor and the disadvantaged, who can gain either through receiving direct dividends or some indirect benefits.Seeing the effectiveness of social business, governments may decide to create their own social businesses or partner with citizen-run social businesses and/or incorporate the lessons from the social businesses to improve the effectiveness of their own programmes. [Second Professor Hiren Mukherjee Memorial Annual Lecture] |
| Keywords: | social business, microcredit, Nobel Laureate, Bangladesh,Economics, Political Science |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:2383&r=soc |
| By: | Cahit Guven; Claudia Senik; Holger Stichnoth |
| Abstract: | This paper asks whether the gap in subjective happiness between spouses matters per se, i.e. whether it predicts divorce. We use three panel databases to explore this question. Controlling for the level of life satisfaction of spouses, we find that a higher satisfaction gap, even in the first year of marriage, increases the likelihood of a future separation. We interpret this as the effect of comparisons of well-being between spouses, i.e. aversion to unequal sharing of wellbeing inside couples. To our knowledge, this effect has never been taken into account by existing economic models of the household. The relation between happiness gaps and divorce may be due to the fact that couples which are unable to transfer utility are more at risk than others. It may also be the case that assortative mating in terms of happiness baseline-level reduces the risk of separation. However, we show that assortative mating is not the end of the story. First, our results hold in fixed-effects estimates that take away the effect of the initial quality of the match between spouses: fixed-effects estimates suggest that a widening of the happiness gap over time raises the risk of separation. Second, we uncover an asymmetry in the effect of happiness gaps: couples are more likely to break-up when the difference in life satisfaction is unfavourable to the wife. The information available in the Australian survey reveals that divorces are indeed predominantly initiated by women, and importantly, by women who are unhappier than their husband. Hence, happiness gaps seem to matter to spouses, not only because they reflect a mismatch in terms of baseline happiness, but because they matter as such. |
| Keywords: | Divorce, happiness, comparisons, panel, households, marriage |
| JEL: | J12 D13 D63 D64 H31 I31 Z13 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp261&r=soc |
| By: | Bhattacharjee, A.; Holly, S. |
| Abstract: | While much of the literature on cross section dependence has focused mainly on estimation of the regression coefficients in the underlying model, estimation and inferences on the magnitude and strength of spill-overs and interactions has been largely ignored. At the same time, such inferences are important in many applications, not least because they have structural interpretations and provide useful interpretation and structural explanation for the strength of any interactions. In this paper we propose GMM methods designed to uncover underlying (hidden) interactions in social networks and committees. Special attention is paid to the interval censored regression model. Our methods are applied to a study of committee decision making within the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee. |
| Keywords: | Committee decision making; Social networks; Cross section and spatial interaction; Generalised method of moments; Censored regression model; Expectation-Maximisation Algorithm; Monetary policy; Interest rates |
| JEL: | D71 D85 E43 E52 C31 C34 |
| Date: | 2010–01–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cam:camdae:1003&r=soc |
| By: | Maria S. Floro; Annika Tornqvist; Emcet Oktay Tas |
| Abstract: | This paper argues that a systematic gender analysis of the current crisis is critical to develop viable solutions and for furthering the trend toward gender equality. It analyses the short- and long-term impact of the current economic crisis with a focus on developing countries. It identifies the multiple channels and transmission mechanisms through which the global economic crisis has affected women's lives and explores different areas where the burden of the crisis falls on poor women, using current indications, micro-level evidence and lessons learned from previous crises. The paper shows that the magnitude and types of effects are context-specific: they are likely to vary across countries, sectors, households and among women, depending on the economic, demographic and social circumstances. In the short run, many women are expected to lose their jobs, particularly those working on the export sectors and/or holding flexible jobs. At the same time, a fall in the supply of micro-credit is expected to result in a decrease in earnings among self-employed women workers in trade, agriculture and other sectors. Additionally, there will likely be an increase in the amount of unpaid work that women do to support their families. In the long-run, it is expected that an increase in girls' dropout rate from school to compensate for their families' loss of income will deteriorate women's future socioeconomic opportunities. In addition, an increase in the level of violence against women, combined with limited access to health and other support services as a result of public expenditure cuts and lower aid receipts, complete the dim picture of the gendered impact of the crisis in developing countries. The paper concludes that it is essential to implement mechanisms to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis on women, in order to ensure that the gains in women's empowerment and gender equality in the last few decades are not put in danger. Furthermore, it is argued that the crisis can be used as a unique opportunity to change power structures and make economic and social policies more gender-aware and move toward creating a more gender-equal society and economic system. To that end, civil society involvement to monitor the gender effects of the crisis in the short and medium term, as well as government-led (and donor supported) gender-aware response packages will be essential. |
| Date: | 2009–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:amu:wpaper:2009-26&r=soc |
| By: | Andrew D. Foster; Mark R. Rosenzweig (Economic Growth Center, Yale University) |
| Abstract: | There is an emerging consensus among macro-economists that differences in technology across countries accounts for the major differences in per-capita GDP and the wages of workers with similar skills across countries. Accounting for differences in technology levels across countries thus can go a long way towards understanding global inequality. One mechanism by which poorer countries can catch up with richer countries is through technological diffusion, the adoption by low-income countries of the advanced technologies produced in high-income countries. In this survey, we examine recent micro studies that focus on understanding the adoption process. If technological diffusion is a major channel by which poor countries can develop, it must be the case that technology adoption is incomplete or the inputs associated with the technologies are under-utilized in poor, or slow-growing economies. Thus, obtaining a better understanding of the constraints on adoption are useful in understanding a major component of growth. |
| Keywords: | technology adoption, review |
| JEL: | O10 O13 O33 |
| Date: | 2010–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egc:wpaper:984&r=soc |
| By: | Gil Lacruz, Ana Isabel (Departamento de Análisis Económico (Teoría e Historia Económica). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.); Gil Lacruz, Marta (Universidad de Zaragoza.); Bernal Cuenca, Estrella (Universidad de Zaragoza.) |
| Abstract: | Abortion rates are increasing all around the world, especially for young women. Our proposals for public policies to reduce unwanted pregnancies are based on an analysis of the socio-economic determinants of abortion rates. Special attention is paid to regional levels of alcohol consumption, living conditions, and public spending on health and education. We carry out estimations using data on regions in Spain from 1999 to 2004. There is empirical evidence that socioeconomic conditions, lifestyles and regional characteristics determine regional abortion rates. Our results suggest that it is important to design public policies to reduce alcohol abuse, improve citizens’ working conditions and promote gender equality through government subsidized childcare. |
| Keywords: | abortion rates; unplanned pregnancy; public policies. |
| JEL: | I12 I18 J13 |
| Date: | 2010–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uam:wpaper:201002&r=soc |
| By: | Iyer, S.; Velu, C.; Mumit, A. |
| Abstract: | Marketing communication is a vital strategic tool for religious organizations to achieve competitive differentiation. The determinants of religious organizations’ use of direct and indirect communication channels offers valuable insights into their modus operandi. This paper uses novel primary survey data on 568 Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Jain organizations spread over 7 major states in India that we collected over the period 2006-2008, to investigate the determinants of communication channel selection by religious organizations. The findings suggest that state-specific effects for Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal; and religion-specific fixed effects for Muslims play a predominant and persistent role in communication channel selection decisions. Religious organizations adopt direct channels more extensively to communicate changes to non-religious service provision. In a competitive framework, religious organizations also use indirect channels more extensively in response to information received about competitors. Additionally, intensive market competition leads religious organizations to increase their use of direct channels in response to information received about competitors through direct channels. Collectively, the findings suggest that across all religions in India, marketing communication plays a very important role for religious organizations in order for them to differentiate themselves from other competitors. |
| Keywords: | Religious marketing, marketing communication, competition, religious organizations, India. |
| Date: | 2010–01–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cam:camdae:1008&r=soc |
| By: | Konstantinos Vrachimis; Marios Zachariadis |
| Abstract: | This paper compares the determinants of economic growth and welfare growth. Our main result is that determinants may differ or have different impact on welfare outcomes as compared to economic outcomes. Human capital plays a bigger role in determining the former, so that policies targeting human capital can have a greater effect on the welfare of societies than one would think by looking at their impact on economic growth alone. Institutions also have a greater effect on welfare growth compared to their impact on economic growth, consistent with the importance of government stability for the uninterrupted provision of health-related inputs and information. Finally, initial income has a greater impact on welfare growth than on real income per capita growth, implying even faster convergence than in Becker, Philipson, and Soares (2005) after adding a number of economic, health-related, institutions-related, and geographic variables. We conclude that there exist systematic differences for the impact of a number of factors on economic relative to welfare outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Economic growth, Welfare, Full income |
| Date: | 2010–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ucy:cypeua:1-2010&r=soc |
| By: | Just, David R.; Wansink, Brian; Mancino, Lisa; Guthrie, Joanne |
| Abstract: | Changing small factors that influence consumer choice may lead to healthier eating within controlled settings, such as school cafeterias. This report describes a behavioral experiment in a college cafeteria to assess the effects of various payment options and menu selection methods on food choices. The results indicate that payment options, such as cash or debit cards, can significantly affect food choices. College students using a card that prepaid only for healthful foods made more nutritious choices than students using either cash or general debit cards. How and when individuals select their food can also influence food choices. College students who preselected their meals from a menu board made significantly different food choices than students who ordered their meals while viewing the foods in line. |
| Keywords: | Behavioral economics, healthy eating, diet quality, food choices, school meal programs, experimental economics, ERS, USDA., Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Health Economics and Policy, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, |
| Date: | 2008–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uersrr:56489&r=soc |