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Cultural Integration and Its Discontents

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  • Timur Kuran
  • William H. Sandholm

Abstract

A community's culture is defined by the preferences and equilibrium behaviours of its members. Contacts among communities alter individual cultures through two interrelated mechanisms: behavioural adaptations driven by pay-offs to coordination, and preference changes shaped by socialization and self-persuasion. This paper explores the workings of these mechanisms through a model of cultural integration in which preferences and behaviours vary continuously. It identifies a broad set of conditions under which cross-cultural contacts promote cultural hybridization. The analysis suggests that policies to support social integration serve to homogenize preferences across communities, thereby undermining a key objective of multiculturalism. Yielding fresh insights into strategies pursued to influence cultural trends, it also shows that communities benefit from having other communities adjust their behaviours. Copyright 2008, Wiley-Blackwell.

Suggested Citation

  • Timur Kuran & William H. Sandholm, 2008. "Cultural Integration and Its Discontents," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 75(1), pages 201-228.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:restud:v:75:y:2008:i:1:p:201-228
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-937X.2007.00469.x
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