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Caste and punishment: the legacy of caste culture in norm enforcement

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  • Karla Hoff
  • Mayuresh Kshetramade
  • Ernst Fehr

Abstract

Well-functioning groups enforce social norms that restrain opportunism, but the social structure of a society may encourage or inhibit norm enforcement. Here we study how the exogenous assignment to different positions in an extreme social hierarchy � the caste system � affects individuals� willingness to punish violations of a cooperation norm. Although we control for individual wealth, education, and political participation, low caste individuals exhibit a much lower willingness to punish norm violations that hurt members of their own caste, suggesting a cultural difference across caste status in the concern for members of one�s own community. The lower willingness to punish may inhibit the low caste�s ability to sustain collective action and so may contribute to its economic vulnerability.

Suggested Citation

  • Karla Hoff & Mayuresh Kshetramade & Ernst Fehr, 2010. "Caste and punishment: the legacy of caste culture in norm enforcement," IEW - Working Papers 476, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics - University of Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:zur:iewwpx:476
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    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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