Product-Based Cultural Change: Is the Village Global?

Thierry Verdier, Jacques Olivier and Nicolas Maystre
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Mathias Thoenig

No 7438, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This paper makes three contributions to the growing literature on culture and economics. Using answers to the World Values Survey for a sample of 79 countries over the 1989-2004 period, we first provide evidence of cultural homogenization between countries. Second, we provide a model of product-based cultural change. Our main theoretical predictions are: (i) bilateral trade openness reduces bilateral cultural distance; (ii) the more differentiated the products, the more trade reduces cultural distance; (iii) trade openness has a lock-in effect on culture. Third, we test the model using an instrumental variable approach and including various time and country-pair fixed effects. We find that a one standard deviation increase in bilateral trade openness translates into a 43% standard deviation decrease in bilateral cultural distance.

Keywords: Culture; Homogenization; Persistence; Trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F10 O10 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cul and nep-int
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Product-based cultural change: Is the village global? (2014)
Working Paper: Product-based cultural change: Is the village global? (2014)
Working Paper: Product-based cultural change: Is the village global? (2014)
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