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The Tower of Babel as a Coordination Game: Political Linguistics in Ghana

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  • Laitin, David D.

Abstract

The problem of choosing an indigenous official language for multilingual states in general and for Ghana in particular is treated as one of coordination in an n-person tipping game. Even with an assumption that the equilibrium outcome of all-English is deficient, the mechanisms for reaching an indigenous language solution are difficult to find. A lottery (a theoretically attractive approach to the solution of coordination games) is less attractive when applied to the issue of language coordination. Empirical data based on interviews from six different regions of Ghana show the limits and possibilities of the theoretic solution. Going back to theory, a mechanism for the successful promotion of an indigenous language outcome is proposed.

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  • Laitin, David D., 1994. "The Tower of Babel as a Coordination Game: Political Linguistics in Ghana," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 88(3), pages 622-634, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:88:y:1994:i:03:p:622-634_09
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    Cited by:

    1. Victor Ginsburgh & Shlomo Weber, 2012. "Culture Languages and Economics," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2012-009, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    2. Victor Ginsburgh & Jacques Melitz & Farid Toubal, 2017. "Foreign Language Learning and Trade," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 320-361, May.
    3. Rajesh Ramachandran & Christopher Rauh & Anh Mai Le, 2016. "Discriminatory attitudes and indigenous language promotion: Challenges and solutions," WIDER Working Paper Series 078, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Alberto Alesina & Eliana La Ferrara, 2003. "Ethnic Diversity and Economic Performance," Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers 2028, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research.
    5. Rajesh Ramachandran & Christopher Rauh, 2016. "Discriminatory attitudes and indigenous language promotion: Challenges and solutions," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-78, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Edward P. Lazear, 1999. "Culture and Language," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(S6), pages 95-126, December.
    7. Ortega, Javier & Tangeraas, Thomas, 2003. "Unilingual versus Bilingual Education System: A Political Economy Analysis," CEPR Discussion Papers 4003, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Victor Ginsburgh & Juan D. Moreno‐Ternero, 2018. "Compensation schemes for learning a Lingua Franca in the European Union," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(7), pages 1775-1789, July.
    9. David D. Laitin, 1995. "Marginality," Rationality and Society, , vol. 7(1), pages 31-57, January.
    10. Victor Ginsburgh & Shlomo Weber, 2020. "The Economics of Language," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 58(2), pages 348-404, June.
    11. Toyin Cotties Adetiba, 2019. "Dynamics of Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: An Impediment to its Political System," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 11(2), pages 132-144.
    12. Dieu Ne Dort Talla Fokam & Paul Ningaye & Fourier Prevost Fotso Koyeu, 2019. "Management of ethnocultural diversity in Africa: challenges and socio-economic consequences," Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, Pro Global Science Association, vol. 17(1), pages 57-64, June.
    13. Rajesh Ramachandran, 2012. "Language use in education and primary schooling attainment: evidence from a natural experiment in Ethiopia," Working Papers 2012/34, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    14. Rajesh Ramachandran & Christopher Rauh, 2023. "The Imperium of the Colonial Tongue? Evidence on Language Policy Preferences in Zambia," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 32(1), pages 52-80.
    15. GINSBURGH, Victor & MELITZ, Jacques & TOUBAL, Farid, 2014. "Foreign language learnings: An econometric analysis," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2014049, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    16. Mark Gradstein, 2000. "The Political Economy of Sustainable Federations," CESifo Working Paper Series 315, CESifo.
    17. Laitin, David D. & Ramachandran, Rajesh, 2022. "Linguistic diversity, official language choice and human capital," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    18. Rajesh Ramachandran, 2012. "Language use in education and primary schooling attainment: evidence from a natural experiment in Ethiopia," Working Papers 2012/34, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    19. Michael Suk-Young Chwe, 1998. "Culture, Circles, And Commercials," Rationality and Society, , vol. 10(1), pages 47-75, February.
    20. A. Andrew John & Kei-Mu Yi, 1997. "Language, learning, and location," Staff Reports 26, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    21. Martins Ekunke Eniemeh & Azizatu Aliyu, 2021. "Ethnic Politics and Nigerian Democracy: The Way Forward," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(2), pages 177-186, February.
    22. Gary W. Cox, 1999. "The Empirical Content of Rational Choice Theory," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 11(2), pages 147-169, April.
    23. Michael Reksulak & William F. Shughart & Robert D. Tollison, 2004. "Economics and English: Language Growth in Economic Perspective," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 71(2), pages 232-259, October.

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