The Origins of Common Identity: Evidence from Alsace-Lorraine

Sirus Dehdari () and Kai Gehring

American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2022, vol. 14, issue 1, 261-92

Abstract: We study how more negative historical exposure to the actions of nation-states—like war, occupation, and repression—affects the formation of regional identity. The quasi-exogenous division of the French regions Alsace and Lorraine allows us to implement a geographical regression discontinuity design at the municipal level. Using measures of stated and revealed preferences, we find that more negative experiences with nation-states are associated with a stronger regional identity in the short, medium, and long run. This is linked to preferences for more regional decision-making. Establishing regional organizations seems to be a key mechanism to maintaining and strengthening regional identity.

JEL-codes: H77 N43 N44 N93 N94 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Origins of Common Identity: Evidence from Alsace-Lorraine (2019)
Working Paper: The Origins of Common Identity: Evidence from Alsace-Lorraine (2018)
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DOI: 10.1257/app.20190772

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