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Updating the Social Norm: the Case of Hate Crime after the Brexit Referendum

Author

Listed:
  • Facundo Albornoz

    (University of Nottingham/CONICET/CEPR)

  • Jake Bradley

    (University of Nottingham/IZA)

  • Silvia Sonderegger

    (University of Nottingham)

Abstract

Within the context of the Brexit referendum, we show that changes in the perception of social norms impact behavior. The referendum revealed new information about views over immigrants at country level. This new information caused a shift in the social norm which made xenophobic expressions more acceptable. At the margin, some of these expressions involve hate crime. We argue that the post-referendum behavioral change increased in the level of surprise at the referendum result, and that observed geographical variations of the effect depend on underlying local views on immigrants. Survey data corroborate these uncovered facts and support our theoretical mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Facundo Albornoz & Jake Bradley & Silvia Sonderegger, 2022. "Updating the Social Norm: the Case of Hate Crime after the Brexit Referendum," Working Papers 203, Red Nacional de Investigadores en Economía (RedNIE).
    • Handle: RePEc:aoz:wpaper:203
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    File URL: https://rednie.eco.unc.edu.ar/files/DT/203.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    social norm; social acceptability; xenophobia; value of information; social interactions; referendum;
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