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The Origins of Common Identity: Division, Homogenization Policies and Identity Formation in Alsace-Lorraine

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  • Sirus Dehdari
  • Kai Gehring

Abstract

We exploit the quasi-exogenous division of the French regions Alsace and Lorraine after the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 due to disagreements in the German leadership to provide evidence of group identity formation within historically homogeneous regions. People in the treated area, which was exposed to repressive homogenization policies aimed to suppress group identity, express a stronger regional identity and support more regional autonomy today. Using a regression discontinuity design at the municipal level, we find that support for two crucial referenda, which would have increased regional autonomy, subscription rates to regional newspapers, and regionalist party votes are significantly higher in the treated area. The results are robust across different specifications and bandwidths, and not driven by language differences, large agglomerations or distance to foreign countries. The differences in regional identity are strongest for the first two age cohorts after World War II and become weaker for later generations.

Suggested Citation

  • Sirus Dehdari & Kai Gehring, 2018. "The Origins of Common Identity: Division, Homogenization Policies and Identity Formation in Alsace-Lorraine," CESifo Working Paper Series 7024, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7024
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    2. Mathias Dolls, 2019. "An Unemployment Re-Insurance Scheme for the Eurozone? Stabilizing and Redistributive Effects," EconPol Policy Reports 10, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    3. Sarah Ciaglia & Clemens Fuest & Friedrich Heinemann, 2018. "What a feeling?! How to promote ‘European Identity’," EconPol Policy Reports 9, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    4. Nora Grote & Tim Klausmann & Mario Scharfbillig, 2019. "Investment in Identity in the Field - Nudging Refugees' Integration Effort," Working Papers 1905, Gutenberg School of Management and Economics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, revised 24 Sep 2021.
    5. Voth, Hans-Joachim & Caprettini, Bruno, 2018. "From Welfare to Warfare: New Deal Spending and Patriotism During World War II," CEPR Discussion Papers 12807, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Grote, Nora & Klausmann, Tim & Scharfbillig, Mario, 2023. "Investment in identity in the field-Nudging refugees’ integration effort," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    7. Abramson, Boaz & Shayo, Moses, 2017. "Grexit vs. Brexit: International Integration under Endogenous Social Identities," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 334, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    8. Alberto Alesina & Bryony Reich & Alessandro Riboni, 2020. "Nation-building, nationalism, and $$\hbox {wars}^*$$ wars ∗," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 381-430, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    group identity; regional identity; identity formation; persistence of preferences; homogenization policies; assimilation; Alsace-Lorraine;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General
    • H80 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - General
    • N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • Z19 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Other

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