Cultural Integration and its Discontents

40 Pages Posted: 12 Sep 2002

See all articles by Timur Kuran

Timur Kuran

Duke University - Department of Economics

William H. Sandholm

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Department of Economics

Date Written: November 30, 2006

Abstract

A community's culture is defined by the preferences and equilibrium behaviors of its members. Contacts among communities alter individual cultures through two mechanisms: behavioral adaptations driven by payoffs to coordination and preference changes shaped by socialization and self-persuasion. This paper explores the workings of these mechanisms through a model of cultural integration in which preferences and behaviors vary continuously. It identifies a broad set of conditions under which cross-cultural contacts promote cultural hybridization. Limiting outcomes are independent of the conformity pressures within the constituent cultures. The analysis suggests that efforts to preserve existing cultures conflict with policies helpful to social integration. It also shows that communities benefit from having other communities adjust their behaviors, yielding fresh insights into strategies pursued to influence cultural trends.

JEL Classification: D7, H4, J7, O0

Suggested Citation

Kuran, Timur and Sandholm, William H., Cultural Integration and its Discontents (November 30, 2006). USC CLEO Research Paper No. C02-14, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=324942 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.324942

Timur Kuran (Contact Author)

Duke University - Department of Economics ( email )

213 Social Sciences Building
Box 90097
Durham, NC 27708-0204
United States

William H. Sandholm

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Department of Economics ( email )

1180 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706
United States

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