Formation and Persistence of Oppositional Identities

Thierry Verdier, Yves Zenou, Alberto Bisin and Eleonora Patacchini

No 8380, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

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: Cultural transmission; Ethnicity; Peer effects; Racism; Role models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 J15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-net, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (96)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Formation and persistence of oppositional identities (2011)
Working Paper: Formation and persistence of oppositional identities (2011)
Working Paper: Formation and persistence of oppositional identities (2011)
Working Paper: Formation and Persistence of Oppositional Identities (2011)
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