Disenfranchisement in linguistically diverse societies: the case of the European Union

Victor Ginsburgh, Shlomo Weber and Ignacio Ortuño-Ortín
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Ignacio Ortuno Ortin

ULB Institutional Repository from ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles

Abstract: We consider a linguistically diversified society and examine the notion of language disenfranchisement when some individuals are denied the full access to documents and political process in their native tongues. To calculate the disenfranchisement indices we use the Dyen percentage cognate matrix of linguistic distances between Indo-European languages and apply survey and population data on language proficiency in the European Union. We then determine optimal sets of official languages that depend on society's sensitivity against disenfranchisement and comprehensiveness of the chosen language regime. We also discuss the language situation in the European Union after its last enlargement. © 2005 by the European Economic Association.

Date: 2005
Note: SCOPUS: ar.j
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (68)

Published in: European Economic Association. Journal (2005) v.3,p.946-964

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Related works:
Journal Article: Disenfranchisement In Linguistically Diverse Societies: The Case Of The European Union (2005)
Working Paper: Disenfranchisement in linguistically diverse societies: the case of the European Union (2005)
Working Paper: Disenfranchisement in Linguistically Diverse Societies: The Case of the European Union (2005)
Working Paper: Disenfranchisement in linguistically diverse societies. The case of the European Union (2004)
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