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on Social Norms and Social Capital |
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Issue of 2025–12–08
eleven papers chosen by Fabio Sabatini, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” |
| By: | James Igoe Walsh; Alexander Kustov; Ivan Flores Martinez |
| Abstract: | While some studies of conflicts, natural disasters, and economic setbacks find these negative collective shocks make people more prosocial, others find they reduce cooperation. These conflicting findings may be a consequence of focusing on a single shock type, a single preference measure, or a single regional or temporal context experiencing shocks. We address these limitations by creating and analyzing a new global dataset of collective shocks and social preferences at the subnational level. We then explore the potential differences in how various shocks (armed conflicts, natural disasters, economic downturns) relate to various social preferences (altruism, reciprocity, trust) and behaviors. Our preliminary analysis shows that, while exposure to armed conflicts or economic downturns does not systematically alter prosociality, exposure to natural disasters reduces some social preferences in the short term, reverting to baseline levels in the long term. By comparing local experiences globally, our project helps develop a nuanced view of how shocks influence preferences, with implications for cooperation and governance. |
| Keywords: | altruism, armed conflicts, natural disasters, reciprocity, trust |
| JEL: | D64 D74 Q54 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hic:wpaper:444 |
| By: | Larysa Minzyuk (Ufficio Parlamentare di Bilancio); Rosaria Vega Pansini (Ufficio Parlamentare di Bilancio); Francesco Vidoli (Department of Economics, Society & Politics, Università di Urbino Carlo Bo) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the determinants of local tax compliance focusing on Italy’s municipal waste tax (TARI). Despite the 2012 fiscal federalism reform that expanded local autonomy, fiscal evasion rates remain high and not homogeneous across territories. Using a balanced panel of 6, 846 municipalities over 2017-2023, we apply a dynamic panel approach to account for endogeneity, persistence, and unobserved heterogeneity in tax collection behaviour. The results show that civic engagement significantly enhances compliance, while generalized trust exerts a negative effect, suggesting that exclusive social ties may undermine fiscal responsibility. These findings highlight the behavioural foundations of local tax performance and indicate that fiscal autonomy alone is insufficient to foster compliance without supportive social capital. To assess whether these relationships are spatially homogeneous, we extend the analysis by implementing a local System GMM estimation, which reveals substantial regional heterogeneity and underscores the spatially contingent nature of fiscal behaviour. These results call for spatially tailored fiscal policies that integrate institutional capacity with the social foundations of compliance. |
| Keywords: | Tax compliance, Fiscal federalism, Local taxation, Social capital, Municipal finance, System GMM |
| JEL: | C23 H26 H71 H77 Z13 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:urb:wpaper:25_02 |
| By: | Monika Nalepa; Simone Paci |
| Abstract: | How can states rebuild fiscal capacity after a civil war? Trust in political institutions and trust in fellow citizens are cornerstones of tax compliance, necessary for a functioning fiscal contract. We posit that transitional justice (TJ) can influence both channels. We use a simple game of tax compliance to represent the trade-off posed by TJ, which at the same time affects trust towards other citizens and in political institutions. |
| Keywords: | Transitional justice, Civil conflict, Taxation, Post-conflict, State capacity, Game theory |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2025-92 |
| By: | Yanina Domenella (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) |
| Abstract: | During economic downturns, governments often provide business grants to stimulate entrepreneurship. However, in societies where kinship ties play a significant role, policy design may be suboptimal if spillover effects are not accounted for. This paper examines the role of family ties in shaping entrepreneurship and the effectiveness of business support measures during economic crises. Using a randomized controlled trial in Kenya, I find that entrepreneurs with larger families coped better with the crisis. However, when external funding was available, strong family ties reduced the positive effects on entrepreneurship.The analysis identifies mutual assistance, crowding-out effects, and managerial interference as key mechanisms. These findings highlight the dual role of family networks, acting as both a safety net and a constraint, with implications for the design of business support policies in developing economies. |
| Keywords: | Entrepreneurship, kinship networks, private transfers, social norms, business support, crisis, field experiment, Kenya. |
| JEL: | L26 O12 O15 Z13 C93 |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cmf:wpaper:wp2025_2529 |
| By: | Valarezo-Unda, Angel; Capilla, Javier; Pérez-Amaral, Teodosio; Garcia-Hiernaux, Alfredo; López, Rafael |
| Abstract: | Using the 2014 – 2021 waves of Spain's ICT-H household panel, we track Internet trust for 59, 648 internet users across 130, 013 person-year observations. A correlated random-effects ordered-probit model shows that improvements in digital skills and first-hand use of transactional services are the strongest and most consistent predictors of higher trust, while traditional socio-economic markers play a secondary role. Once skill levels are controlled, age differences largely vanish, but women still report lower trust and the pandemic years register a notable dip, pointing to attitudinal and systemic factors that skill policies alone cannot solve. The findings highlight the need for advanced skill training, guided initial transactions and robust consumer safeguards, particularly for women and low-income users, if Spain is to close its remaining trust gap and achieve inclusive digitalization. |
| Keywords: | Internet trust, digital inclusion, socio-economic determinants, panel data, digital skills, Eco-RETINA, Spain, ICT-H survey |
| JEL: | C33 D83 L86 O33 O35 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse25:331314 |
| By: | Stanislav Avdeev |
| Abstract: | This paper provides the first evidence on the impact of exposure to international students on the long-term outcomes of native students. I combine unique survey and administrative data from the Netherlands covering one million students across three decades and employ an across-cohort design. I find that exposure to international students leads natives to (i) form social ties with non-natives, (ii) hold more positive attitudes towards migration and learning about other cultures, and (iii) seek opportunities abroad. Notably, I find precisely estimated zero effects on employment, income, entrepreneurship, and the share of international co-workers up to 25 years after university entry. |
| Keywords: | contact hypothesis, domestic students, foreign students, higher education, labor market, mobility, networks, peer effects, emigration |
| JEL: | F22 I23 J24 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12283 |
| By: | Ojha, Manini; Gupta, Sagnik Kumar; Dhamija, Gaurav |
| Abstract: | This paper evaluates the causal impact of women's exposure to the internet on their attitudes towards intimate partner violence (IPV) using data from the most recent round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). To address potential endogeneity, we exploit exogenous variation in district-level mobile tower density in India as an instrument for women's internet exposure. The instrumental variables estimation provides robust evidence that a woman's exposure to internet reduces her likelihood of justifying IPV by 21 percentage points. We also provide suggestive evidence that higher awareness and physical mobility are potential mechanisms through which internet exposure shapes attitudes. Our findings highlight the transformative potential of digital connectivity in challenging regressive gender norms. |
| Keywords: | Internet Exposure, Tower Density, Intimate Partner Violence, Attitudes, Instrumental Variable, NFHS, India |
| JEL: | C26 J12 J16 I30 O12 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1696 |
| By: | Paula Eugenia Gobbi; Anne Hannusch; Pauline Rossi |
| Abstract: | Much of the observed cross-country variation in fertility aligns with the predictions of classic theories of the fertility transition: countries with higher levels of human capital, higher GDP per capita, or lower mortality rates tend to exhibit lower fertility. However, when examining changes within countries over the past 60 years, larger fertility declines are only weakly associated with greater improvements in human capital, per capita GDP, or survival rates. To understand why, we focus on the role of family institutions, particularly marriage and inheritance customs. We argue that, together with the diffusion of cultural norms, they help explain variations in the timing, speed and magnitude of the fertility decline. We propose a stylized model integrating economic, health, institutional and cultural factors to study how these factors interact to shape fertility transition paths. We find that family institutions can mediate the effect of economic development by constraining fertility responses. |
| Keywords: | Fertility transition, culture, Family institutions |
| JEL: | J13 |
| Date: | 2025–11–28 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/397122 |
| By: | Kröper, Marius |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the long-run effects of non-strategic administrative failures on voter participation. I exploit a natural experiment from Berlin's 2021 elections, in which hundreds of precincts experienced ballot shortages, multi-hour queues, and unlawful polling closures. Using precinct-level administrative data and a stacked event study design, I show that precincts exposed to administrative failures in the 2021 Berlin election experienced a 1.8 percentage points (2.4\%) decline in turnout across three subsequent elections over the next four years. The drop is concentrated in in-person voting and only partially offset by increases in postal participation in subsequent elections. Effects are largest among young voters, welfare recipients, and residents with migration backgrounds. Survey evidence suggests two mechanisms: disrupted civic habit formation and short-term erosion of institutional trust. |
| Keywords: | State Capacity, Voter Turnout, Voting Costs, Administrative Failure |
| JEL: | D72 H11 H70 R50 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:tudcep:333402 |
| By: | Darius, Philipp (Hertie School); Drews, Wiebke; Neumeier, Andreas; Riedl, Jasmin |
| Abstract: | Social media platforms play an increasingly important role in political campaigning, enabling parties to bypass traditional media and mobilize support directly. While prior research highlights the online prominence of far-right and radical populist actors, most studies are limited to single platforms or national contexts. This study presents the first cross- platform and cross-national analysis of digital campaign communication by 401 parties across all 27 EU member states during the 2024 Euro- pean Parliament election. Using data from Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, and YouTube, we examine party activity and audience engage- ment. By linking digital trace data with expert surveys, we test whether populist radical right parties disproportionately succeed in raising engage- ment online. Our findings confirm strong platform-specific advantages of radical populist parties, particularly on TikTok, YouTube and Facebook. We also observe high engagement for far-left populist parties with similar emotional and anti-elitist communication strategies. The more Eurosceptic positions a party holds, or the more frequently experts describe them to use emotional appeals or anti-elitist communication, the more audience engagement they received across several platforms. Overall the findings emphasize a disproportionate online support for radical populist parties across the European Union. |
| Date: | 2025–11–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:42vfx_v1 |
| By: | Tuki, Daniel |
| Abstract: | Drawing on data from Rounds 7-10 of the Afrobarometer survey, conducted in Morocco between 2018 and 2024 (n = 4, 800), this study examines the relationship between lived poverty and attitudes toward immigrants and foreign workers. Lived poverty is measured using an index that combines the frequency with which respondents and their household members lacked basic necessities such as food, water, medical care, cooking fuel, and cash income. Hostility is measured using responses to an item asking about respondents' willingness to have immigrants and foreign workers as neighbors, with answers recorded on a five-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly like" to "strongly dislike." Regression analyses reveal that higher levels of poverty are associated with greater reluctance to have immigrants as neighbors. These findings suggest that economic vulnerability may heighten perceived intergroup competition, which in turn could lead to anti-immigrant sentiment. By focusing on Morocco, a key node in North-South migration flows, this study contributes to broader debates on how structural inequality shapes public opinion toward migrants in the Global South. |
| Keywords: | Morocco, poverty, hostility, discrimination, immigrants, foreign workers |
| JEL: | F22 I30 J15 J61 J71 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:gigawp:333405 |