Citation

Discussion Paper Details

Please find the details for DP12947 in an easy to copy and paste format below:

Full Details

Title: The Cultural Divide

Author(s): Klaus Desmet and Romain Wacziarg

Publication Date: May 2018

Keyword(s): between-group heterogeneity, cultural convergence, cultural divide, Cultural Evolution, cultural heterogeneity, General Social Survey and United States

Programme Area(s): Public Economics

Abstract: This paper conducts a systematic quantitative study of cultural convergence and divergence in the United States over time. Using the General Social Survey (1972-2016), we assess whether cultural values have grown more or less heterogeneous, both overall and between groups. Groups are defined according to 11 identity cleavages such as gender, religion, ethnic origin, family income quintiles, geographic region, education levels, etc. We find some evidence of greater overall heterogeneity after 1993 when averaging over all available values, yet on many issues heterogeneity changes little. The level of between-group heterogeneity is extremely small: the United States is very pluralistic in terms of cultural attitudes and values, but this diversity is not primarily the result of cultural divides between groups. On average across cleavages and values, we find evidence of falling between-group heterogeneity from 1972 to the late 1990s, and growing divides thereafter. We interpret these findings in light of a model of cultural change where intergenerational transmission and forces of social influence determine the distribution of cultural traits in society.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=12947

Bibliographic Reference

Desmet, K and Wacziarg, R. 2018. 'The Cultural Divide'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=12947