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Genetic distance and intra-national variation in preferences and behaviours

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  • Qin, Yu
  • Ruan, Jianqing
  • Wang, Ling
  • Yan, Jubo

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between genetic distance and intra-national variation in preferences and behaviours in the Chinese context. We focus on three categories of representative and fundamental preferences—risk, time, and social preferences—and related behaviours. The results suggest that genetic distance is positively related to the differences in risk, time, and social preferences. Furthermore, genetic distance is positively related to the differences in associated economic behaviours, including the differences in entrepreneurship, saving behaviour, cooperative behaviour, and prosocial behaviour. In general, an increase in one standard deviation of genetic distance is associated with an increase in differences in preferences and behaviours by 3–18 % of a standard deviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Qin, Yu & Ruan, Jianqing & Wang, Ling & Yan, Jubo, 2022. "Genetic distance and intra-national variation in preferences and behaviours," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:83:y:2022:i:c:s1049007822000914
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2022.101535
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Genetic distance; Preference; Behaviour; Regional disparity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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