Return
The origins of reference groups
M
C
X
G
DOI:10.1007/s10888-026-09742-8.png)
Abstract
En 中文
Do individuals choose their reference groups, i.e. their Joneses, or are they culturally transmitted across generations and through the social environment? We provide evidence that feeds the theoretical debate about the origins of reference groups. Our findings for Uruguay suggest that reference groups are largely transmitted across generations and are also shaped by the social environment where individuals live. Our results are robust to several checks and to endogeneity issues. Our analysis of mechanisms shows that transmission is strongest when parents are homogeneous and when the gender of the parent and the offspring is the same.
Keywords:
Intergenerational transmission
Reference group
Income comparisons
AI Summary
Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.
Journal
IF:
2.4
Papers:
645
Citations:
1.3K
