1. Social Norms Theory and Development Economics
- Author
-
Eriksson, Lina
- Subjects
SUBSTANCE ABUSE ,GENDER RELATIONS ,PUBLIC SERVICE ,ALCOHOL ,ECONOMIC GROWTH ,COMMUNICATION ,SAFE SEX ,OWNERSHIP OF LAND ,FAMILIES ,EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ,PUBLIC SUPPORT ,FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ,DEPENDENCE ,YOUNG PEOPLE ,GENITAL MUTILATION ,POLICY‐MAKERS ,SOCIETIES ,POLICY MAKERS ,POPULATION ,SEXUAL VIOLENCE ,SOCIAL PRACTICE ,MANDATES ,SOCIAL INTERACTIONS ,BOTH SEXES ,CIVIL WAR ,WOMEN ,TEENAGERS ,HUMAN BEHAVIOUR ,SOAP OPERAS ,INTEGRITY ,MOTHER ,DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ,CARE FOR CHILDREN ,FATHERHOOD ,GIRLS ,POPULATIONS ,ANTHROPOLOGY ,WAR ,HEALTH IMPACT ,MACHISMO ,TABOO ,TELEVISION ,PARTNERS ,PHILOSOPHERS ,ADOPTION ,KIDS ,RESPONSIBILITIES ,PENSIONS ,SOCIAL ISSUES ,POLICY DISCUSSIONS ,CULTURES ,SOCIETY ,IMPACT ON CHILDREN ,STUDENTS ,RELIGION ,PEACE ,MEDIA ,DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ,SOCIOBIOLOGY ,FEMALE “CIRCUMCISION ,PROPERTY RIGHTS ,HUMAN BEHAVIOR ,YOUNG MEN ,RITUAL ,EXOGAMY ,PROGRESS ,MODERNIZATION ,COOPERATION ,SOCIAL GROUP ,CONDOM ,SYMBOLS ,INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ,SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY ,SOCIAL STATUS ,SOCIAL NORMS ,MATERNITY LEAVE ,SOCIAL INFORMATION ,DEVELOPMENT POLICY ,NATIONALS ,LAND TENURE ,MUTILATION ,ETHNOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE ,PRINCIPLES ,SOCIAL SECURITY ,FEMININITY ,PROPERTY ,SURVEYS ,FAMILY MEMBERS ,PEER PRESSURE ,GENDER NORMS ,SOCIAL MEANINGS ,SOCIAL POLICY ,ANTHROPOLOGIST ,MARRIED COUPLES ,MASCULINITY ,EDUCATION OF WOMEN ,EVERYDAY LIFE ,TV ,MORAL NORMS ,BELIEFS ,YOUNG WOMEN ,SOCIAL LIFE ,HISTORY ,SPOUSE ,SOCIAL CHANGE ,ETHNOGRAPHY ,ALTRUISM ,ENERGY CONSUMPTION ,MARRIAGE ,CONDOM USE ,ROLE MODELS ,FEMALE CHILDREN ,POLICY‐ MAKERS ,WOMAN ,FEMALE SEXUALITY ,CONDOMS ,CIRCUMCISION ,POLICIES ,POLICY ,UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES ,FAMILY ,CREATION ,ETHNICITY ,GOOD ,SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ,SEX ,HOUSEHOLDS ,RESPECT ,FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING ,FEWER PEOPLE ,RURAL COMMUNITIES ,PARTICIPATORY PROCESS ,MORALITY ,SOCIAL MARKETING ,HOUSEHOLD WORK ,LIVING‐STANDARDS ,FUNERALS ,POWER ,HOUSEHOLD INCOME ,SPOUSES ,PUBLIC POLICY ,POLICY RESEARCH ,CHILD CARE ,DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ,PREGNANCIES ,SEXUALITY ,SOCIAL PRESSURE ,DRUGS ,KNOWLEDGE ,POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER ,ABUSE ,TELEVISION NETWORK ,RADIO ,VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ,GENDER EQUALITY ,PARENTAL LEAVE ,RESPONSIBILITY ,POLITICAL CHANGE ,SOCIAL INEQUALITY ,SOCIOLOGY ,GENITAL CUTTING ,RELIGIOUS REASONS ,NORMS ,POSTERS ,DISCRIMINATION ,FAIRNESS ,CHILD‐REARING ,GENDER ,MARKET ECONOMY ,GENDER ROLES ,HUSBANDS ,CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ,ETHICS - Abstract
Social norms affect almost every aspect of people’s lives, and can be an obstacle to or support economic development. This paper outlines what social norms are and how they work, providing examples from everyday life and from development case studies. Sometimes not much can be done about changing undesirable social norms. In those cases, development economists need to be aware of how the existence of those norms can impact the effects of the policies they advocate. But of particular importance to development economists is the ways in which social norms can be changed, at least under some circumstances. Understanding of social norm change is still patchy at best, but the paper outlines the theoretical underpinnings of change, with empirical evidence from various policies aimed at changing social norms. However, some of those policies raise ethical concerns that would require attention.
- Published
- 2015