Ranking Languages in the European Union:Before and after Brexit

27 Pages Posted: 26 Sep 2016

See all articles by Victor Ginsburgh

Victor Ginsburgh

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - European Center for Advanced Research in Economics and Statistics (ECARES)

Juan D. Moreno Ternero

Universidad Pablo de Olavide

Shlomo Weber

Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Department of Economics; New Economic School

Date Written: September 2016

Abstract

This article presents a framework for evaluation of the impact of languages in multilingual societies. We consider several ranking methods grounded on various principles, including minimal disenfranchisement, communicative benefits, utilitarianism, and the game-theoretical concept of the Shapley Value. We use data from the Special Barometer survey to apply these methods to languages within the European Union. Although the methods we consider are driven by distinct normative grounds, they generate quite similar results. Finally, we analyse the impact of Brexit on the rankings, especially if English forfeits its status as an official language in the Union.

Keywords: Communicative benefits, European Union, linguistic disenfranchisement, official languages, Ranking methods

JEL Classification: C71, D71, Z18

Suggested Citation

Ginsburgh, Victor and Moreno-Ternero, Juan D. and Weber, Shlomo, Ranking Languages in the European Union:Before and after Brexit (September 2016). CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP11529, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2843548

Victor Ginsburgh (Contact Author)

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - European Center for Advanced Research in Economics and Statistics (ECARES) ( email )

Ave. Franklin D Roosevelt, 50 - C.P. 114
Brussels, B-1050
Belgium

Juan D. Moreno-Ternero

Universidad Pablo de Olavide ( email )

Ctra. Utrera, Km.1
Sevilla, Seville 41010
Spain

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.google.com/site/jmorenoternero/

Shlomo Weber

Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Department of Economics ( email )

Dallas, TX 75275
United States
214-768-3577 (Phone)
214-768-1821 (Fax)

New Economic School ( email )

Moscow
Russia
+ 7-495-9569508 (Phone)

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