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Status-seeking culture and development of capitalism

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  • Chu, Angus C.
  • Fan, Haichao
  • Wang, Xilin

Abstract

According to Werner Sombart’s classic text Luxury and Capitalism, the status-seeking behavior of individuals may facilitate the development of capitalism and an early industrialization. In this study, we develop a growth-theoretic framework to formalize this hypothesis by introducing a status-seeking preference into the Schumpeterian growth model of endogenous takeoff. Then, we explore how this cultural preference affects the transition of an economy from pre-industrial stagnation to modern economic growth. We find that the effects of status-seeking behaviors evolve across different stages of economic development. Specifically, a stronger preference for status seeking causes an earlier takeoff and increases economic growth in the short run but has an overall negative effect on the steady-state equilibrium growth rate. Finally, we calibrate the model to US data to perform a quantitative analysis and also use cross-country data to estimate the effects of status-seeking preference on economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Chu, Angus C. & Fan, Haichao & Wang, Xilin, 2020. "Status-seeking culture and development of capitalism," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 275-290.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:180:y:2020:i:c:p:275-290
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.10.010
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    Cited by:

    1. Furukawa, Yuichi & Lai, Tat-kei & Sato, Kenji, 2019. "Love of Novelty: A Source of Innovation-Based Growth... or Underdevelopment Traps?," MPRA Paper 92915, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Chu, Angus C. & Peretto, Pietro & Xu, Rongxin, 2023. "Export-led takeoff in a Schumpeterian economy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    3. Qichun He & Yulei Luo & Jun Nie & Heng-fu Zou, 2023. "Money, Growth, and Welfare in a Schumpeterian Model with the Spirit of Capitalism," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 47, pages 346-372, January.
    4. Chu, Angus C. & Peretto, Pietro F. & Wang, Xilin, 2022. "Agricultural revolution and industrialization," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    5. Maurizio Iacopetta, 2021. "Class Di¤erences and the Commercial Revolution: An Equilibrium Selection Story," SciencePo Working papers Main halshs-03515585, HAL.
    6. Chu, Angus C. & Peretto, Pietro & Wang, Xilin, 2024. "Government spending and industrialization in a Schumpeterian economy," MPRA Paper 120797, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Madsen, Jakob & Strulik, Holger, 2024. "Inequality and the Industrial Revolution," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    8. Chu, Angus C. & Furukawa, Yuichi & Wang, Xilin, 2022. "Rent-seeking government and endogenous takeoff in a Schumpeterian economy," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Qichun He & Yulei Luo & Jun Nie & Heng-fu Zou, 2023. "Money, Growth, and Welfare in a Schumpeterian Model with the Spirit of Capitalism," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 47, pages 346-372, January.
    10. Chu, Angus & Cozzi, Guido & Fan, Haichao, 2022. "Natural Selection and Innovation-Driven Growth," MPRA Paper 113502, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Vincenzo Lombardo, 2021. "Social inclusion through social status and the emergence of development traps," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(4), pages 798-825, November.
    12. Iacopetta, Maurizio, 2021. "Class differences and the Commercial Revolution: An equilibrium selection story," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    13. Zhou, Xianbo & Sun, Yucheng & Tao, Ying, 2023. "Does Digital Finance Upgrade Trickle-down consumption effect in China?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Status seeking; Endogenous takeoff; Innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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