Social identity and preferences
By: Daniel J. Benjamin, James J. Choi, A. Joshua Strickland.
Contributors: Choi, James J.; Strickland, A. Joshua; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- no. 13309.; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research) -- working paper no. 13309.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Cambridge, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 42
Subjects: Group identity -- Economic aspects -- United States; Identity (Psychology) -- Economic aspects; Demography -- Economic aspects -- United States; African Americans -- Race identity -- Economic aspects; Gender identity -- Economic aspects -- United States
Description: In two laboratory experiments, we examine whether norms associated with one's social identity affect time and risk preferences. When we make ethnic identity salient to Asian-American subjects, they make more patient choices. When we make race salient to black subjects, non-immigrant blacks (but not immigrant blacks) make more risk-averse choices. Making gender identity salient causes choices to conform to gender norms the subject believes are relatively more common. Our results provide evidence that identity effects play a role in shaping U.S. demographic patterns in economic behaviors and outcomes.
Notes: "August 2007"

Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-42).

Also available in PDF from the NBER world wide web site (www.nber.org).