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Identity, Beliefs, and Political Conflict*

Giampaolo Bonomi, Nicola Gennaioli and Guido Tabellini

The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2021, vol. 136, issue 4, 2371-2411

Abstract: We present a theory of identity politics that builds on two ideas. First, when policy conflict renders a certain social divide—economic or cultural—salient, a voter identifies with her economic or cultural group. Second, the voter slants her beliefs toward the stereotype of the group she identifies with. We obtain three implications. First, voters’ beliefs are polarized along the distinctive features of salient groups. Second, if the salience of cultural policies increases, cultural conflict rises, redistributive conflict falls, and polarization becomes more correlated across issues. Third, economic shocks hurting conservative voters may trigger a switch to cultural identity, causing these voters to demand less redistribution. We discuss U.S. survey evidence in light of these implications.

Date: 2021
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Working Paper: Identity, Beliefs, and Political Conflict (2019) Downloads
Working Paper: Identity, Beliefs, and Political Conflict (2019) Downloads
Working Paper: Identity, Beliefs, and Political Conflict (2018) Downloads
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The Quarterly Journal of Economics is currently edited by Robert J. Barro, Lawrence F. Katz, Nathan Nunn, Andrei Shleifer and Stefanie Stantcheva

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