Post by Sapphire Capital on Jul 11, 2008 21:31:21 GMT 4
Social Identity and Preferences
DANIEL J. BENJAMIN
Cornell University - Department of Economics
JAMES J. CHOI
Yale School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
A. STRICKLAND
Affiliation Unknown
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April 2008
Yale ICF Working Paper No. 08-13
Abstract:
We provide evidence that time and risk preference norms tied to social identities help shape observed U.S. demographic patterns in economic outcomes. We identify the marginal effect of norms by measuring how laboratory subjects' choices change when an aspect of social identity is made salient. We find that when ethnic identity is salient to Asian-American subjects, they make more patient choices. When we make race salient to black subjects, non-immigrant blacks (but not immigrant blacks) make more risk-averse choices. Making gender identity salient causes choices to conform to gender norms the subject believes are relatively more common.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID1124994_code223089.pdf?abstractid=1124994&mirid=1
DANIEL J. BENJAMIN
Cornell University - Department of Economics
JAMES J. CHOI
Yale School of Management; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
A. STRICKLAND
Affiliation Unknown
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 2008
Yale ICF Working Paper No. 08-13
Abstract:
We provide evidence that time and risk preference norms tied to social identities help shape observed U.S. demographic patterns in economic outcomes. We identify the marginal effect of norms by measuring how laboratory subjects' choices change when an aspect of social identity is made salient. We find that when ethnic identity is salient to Asian-American subjects, they make more patient choices. When we make race salient to black subjects, non-immigrant blacks (but not immigrant blacks) make more risk-averse choices. Making gender identity salient causes choices to conform to gender norms the subject believes are relatively more common.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID1124994_code223089.pdf?abstractid=1124994&mirid=1