Identity-Driven Cooperation versus Competition
American Economic Review
vol. 106,
no. 5, May 2016
(pp. 420-24)
Abstract
This paper seeks to extend the domain of identity economics by exploring motivational foundations of in-group cooperation and out-group competition. On this basis, we explore the reflexive interaction between individual economic decisions and social identities in response to technological change in market economies. Our analysis explores how technological change falling on marketable goods and services, rather than non-market caring relationships, leads to a restructuring of identities, which increases the scope of individualism and promotes positional competition at the expense of caring activities. Since positional competition generates negative externalities while caring activities create positive ones, these developments have important welfare implications.Citation
Snower, Dennis J., and Steven J. Bosworth. 2016. "Identity-Driven Cooperation versus Competition." American Economic Review, 106 (5): 420-24. DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20161041Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D11 Consumer Economics: Theory
- D64 Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
- D71 Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
- Z13 Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification