A framework for analyzing language and welfare

Jacques Melitz

No 9091, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The paper proposes a general model that will encompass trade and social benefits of a common language, a preference for a variety of languages, the fundamental role of translators, an emotional attachment to maternal language, and the threat that globalization poses to the vast majority of languages. With respect to people?s emotional attachment, the model considers minorities to suffer losses from the subordinate status of their language. In addition, the model treats the threat to minority language as coming from the failure of the parents in the minority to transmit their maternal language (durably) to their children. Some familiar results occur. In particular, we encounter the usual social inefficiencies of decentralized solutions to language learning when the sole benefits of the learning are communicative benefits (though translation intervenes). However, these social inefficiencies assume a totally different air when the consumer gains of variety are brought in. One fundamental aim of the paper is to bring together contributions to the economics of language from labor economics, network externalities and international trade that are typically treated separately.

Keywords: Language; Trade; Welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D60 F10 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mic
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: A Framework for Analyzing Language and Welfare (2012)
Working Paper: A Framework for Analyzing Language and Welfare (2012)
Working Paper: A Framework for Analyzing Language and Welfare (2012)
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