Culture, Context, and the Taste for Redistribution

Working Paper No. 14268 Is culture an important determinant of preferences for redistribution? To separate the effect of culture from the effect of the economic and institutional environment ("context"), we relate immigrants' preferences for redistribution to the average preference in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NBER Working Paper Series 2008-08, p.14268
Main Authors: Luttmer, Erzo FP, Singhal, Monica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Country of birth
Cultural values
Culture
Economic theory
Immigrants
Immigration
Income distribution
Income redistribution
Local government
Noncitizens
Political parties
Preferences
Self interest
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Summary:Working Paper No. 14268 Is culture an important determinant of preferences for redistribution? To separate the effect of culture from the effect of the economic and institutional environment ("context"), we relate immigrants' preferences for redistribution to the average preference in their birth countries, controlling extensively for individual characteristics and country-of-residence fixed effects. We find a strong positive relationship. This cultural effect is larger for non-voters, those with shorter tenure in the country of residence, and those who move to countries with a large number of immigrants from their own birth countries. Immigrants from countries with a higher preference for redistribution are also more likely to vote for a more pro-redistribution political party. The effect of culture persists strongly into the second generation.
ISSN:0898-2937
DOI:10.3386/w14268