The dynamics of continuous cultural traits in social networks

Berno Buechel, Tim Hellmann and Michael M. Pichler
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Berno Büchel

Journal of Economic Theory, 2014, vol. 154, issue C, 274-309

Abstract: We consider an overlapping generations model where continuous cultural traits are transmitted from an adult generation to the children. A weighted social network describes how children are influenced not only by their parents but also by other role models within the society. Parents can invest into the purposeful socialization of their children by strategically displaying a cultural trait (which need not coincide with their true cultural trait). We observe a cultural substitution effect when parents choose their behavior optimally. Based on Nash equilibrium behavior, we then study the dynamics of cultural traits throughout generations. These converge if parent's influence on their children is large enough compared to the social environment's influence. Under convergent dynamics, closed subgroups fully assimilate, while heterogeneous traits prevail in the other groups. Speed of convergence is low when parents' incentives to socialize their children to the own trait are high.

Keywords: Cultural transmission; Continuous cultural traits; Social networks; Persistence of cultural traits; Opinion dynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 C72 D83 D85 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (54)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Dynamics of Continuous Cultural Traits in Social Networks (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:154:y:2014:i:c:p:274-309

DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2014.09.008

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