The silent majority?

Wallice Ao and Jiabin Wu ()

Economics Letters, 2020, vol. 193, issue C

Abstract: This paper presents a simple model illustrating how a silent group would arise in equilibrium. The members of a silent group choose not to publicly express their opinions in the face of social pressure from norm deviation. The silent group can be either the majority or the minority depending on the comparison between the strength of social pressure and the psychological cost of dispossession. The social norm, which is the average opinion of the vocal group, can be on either the left or the right side of the political spectrum. Moreover, multiple vocal and silent groups can coexist.

Keywords: Silent majority; Social norm; Social pressure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 D70 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:193:y:2020:i:c:s0165176520302251

DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109350

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