Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Research Papers in Economics,
Stockholm University, Department of Economics
No 2011:16: Formation and Persistence of Oppositional Identities
Alberto Bisin (), Eleonora Patacchini (), Thierry Verdier () and Yves Zenou ()
Additional contact information
Alberto Bisin: New York University, Postal: Department of Economics, New York University, 19 West Fourth Street, New York, NY 10012
Eleonora Patacchini: La Sapienza University of Rome, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF) and CEPR., Postal: La Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Economics, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Thierry Verdier: Paris School of Economics (PSE) and CEPR, Postal: Paris School of Economics, 48 Bb. Jourdan, 75014 Paris, France
Yves Zenou: Dept. of Economics, Stockholm University, Postal: Department of Economics, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Abstract: We develop a dynamic model of identity formation that explains why ethnic minorities may choose to adopt oppositional identities (i.e. some individuals may reject or not the dominant culture) and why this behavior may persist over time. We first show that the prevalence of an oppositional culture in the minority group cannot always be sustained in equilibrium. Indeed, because the size of the majority group is larger, there is an “imposed” process of exposition to role models from the majority group that favors the diffusion of mainstream values in the minority community. In spite of this, an oppositional culture in the minority group can nevertheless be sustained in steady-state if there is enough cultural segmentation in terms of role models, or if the size of the minority group is large enough, or if the degree of oppositional identity it implies is high enough. We also demonstrate that the higher the level of harassment and the number of racist individuals in the society, the more likely an oppositional minority culture will emerge. We finally show that ethnic identity and socialization effort can be more intense in mixed rather than segregated neighborhoods.
Keywords: Ethnicity; role models; peer effects; cultural transmission; racism
59 pages, April 26, 2011
Full text files
wp11_16.pdf
Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Anne Jensen ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().
RePEc:hhs:sunrpe:2011_0016This page generated on 2024-09-13 22:17:18.