Conspicuous Consumption and Inequality

Jessica Harriger-Lin (), Neha Khanna and Andreas Pape

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: We analyze the change in consumer demand following a mean preserving change in consumption inequality when there is conspicuous consumption. We model interdependent preferences including “keeping up with the Joneses” (imitating others) and “running away from the Joneses” (distinguishing oneself from others) with multiple peer groups and peer group effects (envy and snob effects). An individual not directly involved in the redistribution increases consumption of the more conspicuous good when she demonstrates i) ‘keeping up’ and a relatively stronger envy effect, or ii) ‘running away’ and a relatively stronger snob effect. Behaviors generated by existing models emerge as special cases.

Keywords: Conspicuousness; peer group effects; keeping up with the Joneses; status signaling; envy; snob (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D11 D31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-04-15
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:24910

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