The Terms and Relations of Comparison, Referential, and Relative Processes

Guillermina Jasso

No 2817, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper develops the mathematical foundations of comparison, referential, and relative (CRR) processes. The key ingredients are: (1) three kinds of terms; and (2) two kinds of relations. Combining the three terms – absolute amount, relative amount, and relative rank – with the two kinds of relations – functions of one variable and functions of two variables – produces a set of six fundamental CRR processes. The paper analyzes the appropriate general functions for each of the six basic CRR processes, and explores the theoretical criteria for specific functions. The paper takes three further steps. First, it links the six basic types of CRR processes to the three fundamental sociobehavioral forces in the recently proposed new unified theory, which also links the forces to identity and to happiness. Second, following the new unified theory, the paper shows how change over time in the fundamental sociobehavioral outcomes provides new manifestations of CRR processes. Third, the paper describes how the primordial sociobehavioral outcomes, like their change over time, operate as explanatory factors that generate rich new phenomena, including new emergent subgroups and new inequalities.

Keywords: identity; rates of change; general functions; power; status; comparison; justice; relative deprivation; reference point; reference group; relative rank; relative amount; absolute amount; specific functions; happiness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C02 C65 D31 D6 I3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2007-05
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Published - published in: Andreas Diekmann, Klaus Eichner, Peter Schmidt, and Thomas Voss (eds.), Rational Choice: Theoretische Analyse und Empirische Resultate. Festschrift für Karl-Dieter Opp. Wiesbaden, Germany: VS Verlag, 2008

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