Detection of local interactions from the spatial pattern of names in France

Keith Head and Thierry Mayer

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Abstract: Using data on name distributions in 95 French d'epartements observed from 1946 to 2002, we investigate spatial and social mechanisms behind the transmission of parental preferences. Drawing inspiration from recent work on social interactions, we develop a simple discrete choice model that predicts a linear relationship between choices by agents in one location and the choices made in neighboring areas. We explain the shares of parents that give their children Saint, Arabic, and American-type names. In a second exercise we examine the effect of distance between locations on differences in name-type shares. In our last exercise we consider dissimilarity in actual names rather than name-types. Using Manhattan Distances as our metric, we find a steady and substantial decline in the importance of geographic distance. Meanwhile, differences in class and national origins have increasing explanatory power.

Keywords: préférences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-00266554v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

Published in Journal of Regional Science, 2008, 48 (1), pp.67-95. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.00548.x⟩

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Related works:
Journal Article: DETECTION OF LOCAL INTERACTIONS FROM THE SPATIAL PATTERN OF NAMES IN FRANCE* (2008)
Working Paper: Detection of local interactions from the spatial pattern of names in France (2008)
Working Paper: Detection of local interactions from the spatial pattern of names in France (2008)
Working Paper: Detection of local interactions from the spatial pattern of names in France (2008)
Working Paper: Detection of local interactions from the spatial pattern of names in France (2008)
Working Paper: Detection of local interactions from the spatial pattern of names in France (2008)
Working Paper: Detection of local interactions from the spatial pattern of names in France (2008)
Working Paper: Detection of Local Interactions from the Spatial Pattern of Names in France (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00266554

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.00548.x

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