Do individuals choose their reference groups, i.e. their Joneses, or are they culturally transmitted across generations? We provide evidence that feeds the theoretical debate about the endogeneity or exogeneity of reference groups. Our findings for Uruguay suggest that reference groups are...

This paper applies the concept of relative deprivation/satisfaction to studying the formation of attitudes towards immigrants. It finds that the feeling of group relative deprivation, as opposed to individual relative deprivation or satisfaction, adversely affects the attitudes of native-born,...

This paper articulates biomedical research results published in The Telomere Effect by Elizabeth Blackburn and Elissa Epel. This paper also articulates social-science research results published in The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. In addition, some of the thoughts of nine...

Altruism, giving and pro-social conduct, and reciprocity, are the basis of the existence and performance of societies, through their various occurrences: in families; among the diverse motives of the political and public sector; as the general respect and moral conduct which permit life in...

Do individuals choose their reference groups, i.e. their Joneses, or are they culturally transmitted across generations? We provide evidence that feeds the theoretical debate about the endogeneity or exogeneity of reference groups. Our findings for Uruguay suggest that reference groups are...

German Abstract: Die Digitalisierung in Subsahara-Afrika verbesserte Kommunikations-Zugang für die Mehrheit der Armen, die bis dahin unter anderem von sozialen Medien, unabhängigen Informationskanälen, Mobile Banking und E-Commerce ausgeschlossen waren. Die Schaffung neuer wirtschaftlicher...

French Abstract:Des élections présidentielles ont eu lieu au Nigeria le 25 février 2023. Le candidat du parti au pouvoir, le All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a remporté l'élection. Il était connu comme un « parrain » politique dans le Sud-ouest. Son principal...

French Abstract:Des élections présidentielles ont eu lieu au Nigeria le 25 février 2023. Le candidat du parti au pouvoir, le All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a remporté l'élection. Il était connu comme un « parrain » politique dans le Sud-ouest. Son principal...

Relative income deprivation is one mechanism through which income or wealth inequality is hypothesized to affect human behaviour, with consequences on well-being. The study checks these effects against multiple self-identified reference groups using a unique rich panel data set from Ethiopia,...

Wealthy individuals often voluntarily provide public goods that the poor also consume. Such philanthropy is perceived as legitimizing one's wealth. Governments routinely exempt the rich from taxation on grounds of their charitable expenditure. We examine the normative logic of this exemption. We...