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Social status and motivated beliefs

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  • González-Jiménez, Víctor

Abstract

This paper shows that social status determines economic achievement through a psychological mechanism. Specifically, social status influences the way individuals form beliefs about their abilities and these beliefs are, in turn, crucial for achievement. A theoretical framework formalizes this mechanism. Data from a cohort study and from two controlled experiments corroborate its existence and quantify its magnitude. This study highlights the role of social status in creating constraints that are internal to the individual and that have the potential to impair economic success.

Suggested Citation

  • González-Jiménez, Víctor, 2022. "Social status and motivated beliefs," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:211:y:2022:i:c:s0047272722000640
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104662
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    Cited by:

    1. J. Atsu Amegashie, 2024. "The Importance of Social Status in a Rent-Seeking Society," CESifo Working Paper Series 10894, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social Status; Beliefs; Economic Mobility; Economic Achievement; Experiments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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