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Interregional Contact and the Formation of a Shared Identity

Author

Listed:
  • Manuel Bagues
  • Christopher Roth

Abstract

We study the long-run effects of contact with individuals from other regions in early adulthood on preferences, beliefs, and national identity. We combine a natural experiment, the random assignment of male conscripts to different locations throughout Spain, with tailored survey data. Being randomly assigned to complete military service outside of one's region of residence fosters contact with conscripts from other regions and increases sympathy and trust toward people from the region of service, as measured decades later. We also observe a long-lasting increase in identification with Spain for individuals originating from regions with strong peripheral nationalism.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuel Bagues & Christopher Roth, 2023. "Interregional Contact and the Formation of a Shared Identity," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 15(3), pages 322-350, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:322-50
    DOI: 10.1257/pol.20210237
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    Cited by:

    1. Kersting, Felix & Wolf, Nikolaus, 2024. "On the origins of national identity. German nation-building after Napoleon," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 463-477.
    2. Giacomo De Luca & Andrea Montalbano & Steven Stillman, 2025. "Serving Countries, Shaping Views: Military Conscription and Attitude Towards Immigrants," CESifo Working Paper Series 11990, CESifo.
    3. Christoph Feldhaus & Lukas Reinhardt & Matthias Sutter, 2024. "Trump ante Portas: Political Polarization Undermines Rule-Following Behavior," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Economics 2024_15, Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Economics.
    4. Foutelet, Adrien & Jang, Bo-Yeon & Medellín-Esguerra, María, 2025. "A Comment on "Interregional Contact and the Formation of a Shared Identity"," I4R Discussion Paper Series 219, The Institute for Replication (I4R).
    5. Liu, Xiangqing, 2025. "Breaking segregation in classrooms: Peer composition and inter-group relationships," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    6. Fremerey, Melinda & Hörnig, Lukas & Schaffner, Sandra, 2024. "Becoming neighbors with refugees and voting for the far-right? The impact of refugee inflows at the small-scale level," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    7. Gäbler, Stefanie & Kellermann, Kim Leonie, 2025. "Administrative areas and regional identity formation: The case of East Germany," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    8. Dominic Rohner, 2025. "Conflict," CESifo Working Paper Series 12035, CESifo.
    9. Stanislav Avdeev, 2025. "University as a Melting Pot: Long-term Effects of Internationalization," CESifo Working Paper Series 12283, CESifo.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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