Culture, Context, and the Taste for Redistribution

Erzo Luttmer and Monica Singhal

No 14268, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Is culture an important determinant of preferences for redistribution? To separate the effect of culture from the effect of the economic and institutional environment ("context"), we relate immigrants' preferences for redistribution to the average preference in their birth countries, controlling extensively for individual characteristics and country-of-residence fixed effects. We find a strong positive relationship. This cultural effect is larger for non-voters, those with shorter tenure in the country of residence, and those who move to countries with a large number of immigrants from their own birth countries. Immigrants from countries with a higher preference for redistribution are also more likely to vote for a more pro-redistribution political party. The effect of culture persists strongly into the second generation.

JEL-codes: D72 H23 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cul, nep-mig and nep-pol
Note: PE POL
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published as Erzo F. P. Luttmer & Monica Singhal, 2011. "Culture, Context, and the Taste for Redistribution," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 3(1), pages 157-79, February.

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Journal Article: Culture, Context, and the Taste for Redistribution (2011)
Working Paper: Culture, Context, and the Taste for Redistribution (2008)
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