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The value of social status

Author

Listed:
  • Butler, Alexander W.
  • Carlin, Bruce I.
  • Crane, Alan D.
  • Liu, Boyang
  • Weston, James P.

Abstract

We quantify the value of social status using secondary market prices for Delaware license plates. Delaware plates are numbered sequentially, are private property, and can be legally bequeathed or traded. In Delaware, they are a valuable source of social status. Market prices suggest a preference for lower plate numbers and there are extreme price jumps that are consistent with exclusive low-digit clubs. The aggregate value of this market indicates that people purchase status as a significant portion of their consumption bundle. Finally, social status as an asset appears to be uncorrelated with aggregate economic and market conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Butler, Alexander W. & Carlin, Bruce I. & Crane, Alan D. & Liu, Boyang & Weston, James P., 2021. "The value of social status," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:206:y:2021:i:c:s0165176521002433
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109966
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Harrington, David E. & Krynski, Kathy J., 1989. "State Pricing of Vanity License Plates," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association, vol. 42(1), pages 95-99, March.
    2. Pesendorfer, Wolfgang, 1995. "Design Innovation and Fashion Cycles," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 85(4), pages 771-792, September.
    3. Woo, Chi-Keung & Horowitz, Ira & Luk, Stephen & Lai, Aaron, 2008. "Willingness to pay and nuanced cultural cues: Evidence from Hong Kong's license-plate auction market," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 35-53, February.
    4. Frank, Robert H, 1985. "The Demand for Unobservable and Other Nonpositional Goods," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 75(1), pages 101-116, March.
    5. Harrington, David E. & Krynski, Kathy J., 1989. "State Pricing of Vanity License Plates," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 42(1), pages 95-99, March.
    6. Erik D. Craft, 2002. "The Demand For Vanity (Plates): Elasticities, Net Revenue Maximization, And Deadweight Loss," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 20(2), pages 133-144, April.
    7. Woo, Chi-Keung & Kwok, Raymond H. F., 1994. "Vanity, superstition and auction price," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 389-395, April.
    8. Ng, Yew-Kwang, 1987. "Diamonds Are a Government's Best Friend: Burden-Free Taxes on Goods Valued for Their Values," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(1), pages 186-191, March.
    9. Biddle, Jeff, 1991. "A Bandwagon Effect in Personalized License Plates?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 29(2), pages 375-388, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Persaud, 2023. "A (paid) passage to India: Migration and revealed willingness to pay for upper‐caste status," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 652-674, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Status; Conspicuous consumption; Consumption;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations

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