Norms and Reform: Legalizing Homosexuality Improves Attitudes

Charles Kenny and Dev Patel

No 465, Working Papers from Center for Global Development

Abstract: This analysis examines the relationship between legal reform and social norms surrounding homosexuality. We document three main findings. First, about a fifth of the variation in individual preferences can be explained at a country level. Second, using a difference-in-differences strategy, legalizing homosexuality improves how individuals view the tone of their communities. Third, we provide further evidence supporting a legal origins argument by examining former colonies. Countries that were colonized by the British Empire have significantly worse legal rights for same-sex couples than those under other colonial powers. We conclude that adopting legal reform can improve societal attitudes.

Keywords: Homosexuality; Legal Reform; Social Norms; Colonialism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 K38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 18 pages
Date: 2017-10-13
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-law and nep-soc
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cgd:wpaper:465

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