On the Salience of Ethnic Conflict

Joan Esteban () and Debraj Ray

American Economic Review, 2008, vol. 98, issue 5, 2185-2202

Abstract: A classical theme in social analysis views economic class divisions as the main cause of social conflict. Yet many, if not most of the conflicts we observe today appear to be ethnic in nature. It appears that the "vertical" nature of class divisions is often dominated by the "horizontal" antagonisms across groups delineated by noneconomic markers. This paper highlights the perverse synergy of economic inequality within ethnic groups, and its role in the salience of ethnic conflict. In a model of group formation which allows both class and ethnic groupings to emerge, we show that ethnic, as opposed to class, conflict may be focal, and precisely in the presence of economic inequality. (JEL D72, D74)

JEL-codes: D72 D74 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.98.5.2185
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (155)

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