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Language Rights - A Welfare-Economics Approach

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  • Bengt-Arne Wickström

Abstract

Distributions of language rights in multilingual settings are analyzed from a normative viewpoint in this chapter. If the cost structure of providing rights is concave in the number of beneficiaries, then a critical-mass criterion for the determination of an optimal rights structure results. It is further shown that an efficiency analysis based on a ‘naive’ cost-benefit calculation has to be augmented in various ways if rights influence the status of a language, which in turn influences the preferences for language rights. Also the inter-generational transfer of language repertoires to the next generation leads to an endogeneity of preferences. The endogeneity of preferences in turn can make the cost-benefit analysis contradictory. In a welfare-maximizing approach, redistribution goals further modify the analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Bengt-Arne Wickström, 2015. "Language Rights - A Welfare-Economics Approach," CESifo Working Paper Series 5491, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_5491
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    JEL classification:

    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H59 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Other
    • K19 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Other
    • Z19 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Other

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