Culture, ethnicity, and diversity Articles uri icon

publication date

  • September 2017

start page

  • 2479

end page

  • 2513

issue

  • 9

volume

  • 107

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0002-8282

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1944-7981

abstract

  • We investigate the empirical relationship between ethnicity andculture, defined as a vector of traits reflecting norms, values, andattitudes. Using survey data for 76 countries, we find that ethnicidentity is a significant predictor of cultural values, yet that withingroupvariation in culture trumps between-group variation. Thus,in contrast to a commonly held view, ethnic and cultural diversityare unrelated. Although only a small portion of a country's overallcultural heterogeneity occurs between groups, we find that variouspolitical economy outcomes (such as civil conflict and public goodsprovision) worsen when there is greater overlap between ethnicityand culture.

subjects

  • Economics