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On the optimality of social status seeking

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  • Liu, Chia-Ying
  • Wang, Wei-Neng

Abstract

We present an endogenous growth model in which households display their social status by holding not only capital but also bonds. According to conventional wisdom, the quest for social status provides an incentive for individuals to accumulate wealth, which stimulates economic growth and elevates it to a socially optimal level. Instead, we show that portfolio allocation is crucial to the growth-enhancing effect of the quest for social status. If households exhibit their social status by accumulating physical capital and holding government bonds, the quest for social status may not increase economic growth. As a result, social status seeking cannot achieve the social optimum. Calibrating our model to data, we find that if government bonds constitute part of the wealth for households’ quest for social status, the quest for social status decreases economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Chia-Ying & Wang, Wei-Neng, 2020. "On the optimality of social status seeking," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 520-525.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:93:y:2020:i:c:p:520-525
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2020.09.007
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social status seeking; Asset allocation; Optimal growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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