PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: ASPIRATIONS, SOCIAL NORMS, AND DEVELOPMENT

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: La Ferrara, Eliana
• 署名单位: Bocconi University; Bocconi University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1542-4766
• DOI: 10.1093/jeea/jvz057
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 1687-1722
• 关键词: role-models; television; INEQUALITY; attitudes; poverty; WEALTH; IMPACT; media

摘要

I study the role of aspirations in economic development drawing on the existing theoretical and empirical literature and provide some new empirical findings using individual level data on aspirations across countries. After discussing the relationship between aspirations and individual investments, I present estimates on the correlates and determinants of students' aspirations in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment data. I focus in particular on socioeconomic status, inequality, and institutional features that lead to horizontal segregation of education systems. I then address the question of whether and how aspirations can be changed, covering recent policy interventions that leverage psychological factors, stereotypes and norms, and material endowments.