| By: |
Yann Algan (Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Paris, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research - CEPR);
Clément Malgouyres (PSE - Paris School of Economics - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - ENS Paris - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - UP1 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS Paris - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, IPP - Institut des politiques publiques);
Thierry Mayer (Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Paris, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research - CEPR, CEPII - Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales - Centre d'analyse stratégique);
Mathias Thoenig (UNIL - Université de Lausanne, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research - CEPR) |
| Abstract: |
This paper studies how economic incentives influence cultural transmission,
using a crucial expression of cultural identity: Child naming decisions. Our
focus is on Arabic versus Non-Arabic names given in France over the 2003-2007
period. Our model of cultural transmission features three determinants: (i)
vertical (parental) cultural transmission culture; (ii) horizontal
(neighborhood) influence; (iii) information on the economic penalty associated
with Arabic names. We find that economic incentives largely influence naming
choices: Would the parental expectation on the economic penalty be zero, the
annual number of babies born with an Arabic name would be more than 50 percent
larger. |
| Keywords: |
Cultural Economics,Cultural Transmission,First Names,Social Interactions |
| Date: |
2021–01 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-03105274&r=all |