The Origins of Common Identity: Evidence from Alsace-Lorraine

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Dehdari, Sirus H.; Gehring, Kai
• 署名单位: Uppsala University; University of Zurich
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20190772
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 261-292
• 关键词: POLITICAL-ECONOMY; integration; institutions; support; culture; nation; border

摘要

We study how more negative historical exposure to the actions of nation-states-like war, occupation, and repression-affects the formation of regional identity. The quasi-exogenous division of the French regions Alsace and Lorraine allows us to implement a geo-graphical regression discontinuity design at the municipal level. Using measures of stated and revealed preferences, we find that more negative experiences with nation-states are associated with a stronger regional identity in the short, medium, and long run. This is linked to preferences for more regional decision-making. Establishing regional organizations seems to be a key mechanism to maintaining and strengthening regional identity.