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Does Culture Affect Unemployment? Evidence from the Röstigraben

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  • Zweimüller, Josef
  • Lalive, Rafael
  • Brügger, Beatrix

Abstract

This paper studies the role of culture in shaping unemployment outcomes. The empirical analysis is based on local comparisons across a language barrier in Switzerland. This Röstigraben seperates cultural groups, but neither labor markets nor political jurisdictions. Local contrasts across the language border identify the role of culture for unemployment. Our findings indicate that differences in culture explain differences in unemployment duration on the order of 20 %. Moreover, we find that horizontal transmission of culture is more important than vertical transmission of culture and that culture is about as important as strong changes to the benefit duration.

Suggested Citation

  • Zweimüller, Josef & Lalive, Rafael & Brügger, Beatrix, 2009. "Does Culture Affect Unemployment? Evidence from the Röstigraben," CEPR Discussion Papers 7405, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:7405
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    Cited by:

    1. H Peyton Young, 2014. "The Evolution of Social Norms," Economics Series Working Papers 726, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    2. Fouka, Vasiliki & Schlaepfer, Alain, 2017. "Agricultural Returns to Labor and the Origins of Work Ethics," MPRA Paper 78556, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Beata Bieszk-Stolorz & Krzysztof Dmytrow, 2021. "Clustering of Voivodships in Poland According to the Effectiveness of Professional Activisation in the Aspect of Changes in Procedures," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2 - Part ), pages 108-121.
    4. Marcén, Miriam, 2014. "The role of culture on self-employment," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 44(S1), pages 20-32.
    5. Thomas Gall & Paolo Masella, 2012. "Markets and jungles," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 103-141, June.
    6. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:2:p:108-121 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Fischer, Andreas & Zachmann, Lucca, 2020. "The effect of self-financed property buyers on local house prices," CEPR Discussion Papers 14632, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Beata Bieszk-Stolorz, 2022. "Impact of Subsidy Programmes on the Development of the Number and Output of RES Micro-Installations in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Jens Suedekum, 2018. "Economic effects of differences in dialect," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 414-414, January.
    10. El Benni, Nadja & Irek, Judith & Finger, Robert & Mack, Gabriele & Ammann, Jeanine, 2024. "Citizens’ perceptions of agricultural policy goals—evidence from Switzerland," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    11. Giavazzi, Francesco & Schiantarelli, Fabio & Serafinelli, Michel, 2009. "Culture, Policies and Labor Market Outcomes," CEPR Discussion Papers 7536, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    12. Zhu, Xinqi & Vrachioli, Maria & Edoardo, Baldoni & M'barek, Robert & Sauer, Johannes, 2021. "Bio-Refineries – a Solution to the EU Sustainable Development Challenges," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315164, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    13. Tariq Hassan Haque & M Ohidul Haque, 2022. "The Unemployment Imbalance Between Non-English-Speaking Migrant Women and Australian Born Women," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 20(2), pages 459-478, June.
    14. Christophe Volonté, 2015. "Culture and Corporate Governance: The Influence of Language and Religion in Switzerland," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 77-118, February.
    15. Jean-Baptiste Michau, 2013. "Unemployment Insurance And Cultural Transmission: Theory And Application To European Unemployment," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 11(6), pages 1320-1347, December.
    16. Bauer, Philipp C. & Riphahn, Regina T., 2013. "Institutional determinants of intergenerational education transmission — Comparing alternative mechanisms for natives and immigrants," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 110-122.
    17. Francesco Giavazzi & Fabio Schiantarelli & Michel Serafinelli, 2013. "Attitudes, Policies, And Work," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 11(6), pages 1256-1289, December.
    18. Jens Ruhose, 2015. "Microeconometric Analyses on Economic Consequences of Selective Migration," ifo Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 61, July.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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