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Social conformity and suicide

Author

Listed:
  • Bussu, Anna
  • Detotto, Claudio
  • Sterzi, Valerio

Abstract

We study the relationship between suicide rates and socioeconomic factors by using a panel data at Italian province level in the time span 1996–2005. Our analysis focuses on the impact of social norms on suicidal behaviors. In particular, beyond the usual social correlates of suicide rates, we propose an aggregate measure of social conformity which refers to the religious sphere as an area of conflict between individual and social behaviors. GMM and dynamic spatial panel data approach are implemented to control for serial and spatial autocorrelation.

Suggested Citation

  • Bussu, Anna & Detotto, Claudio & Sterzi, Valerio, 2013. "Social conformity and suicide," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 67-78.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:42:y:2013:i:c:p:67-78
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2012.11.013
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Suicide; Family; Conformity; Social norms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C2 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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