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Social Structure, State, and Economic Activity

Author

Listed:
  • Bramoulle, Y.
  • Goyal, S.
  • Morelli, M.

Abstract

Most societies in the world contain strong group identities and the culture supporting these groups is highly persistent. This persistence in turn gives rise to a practical problem: how do and should societies with strong group identities organize themselves for exchange and public good provision? In this paper, we develop a theoretical framework – with social structure characterized by number and size of groups as well as quality of ties between them – that allows us to study, normatively and positively, the relationship between social structure, state capacity, and economic activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Bramoulle, Y. & Goyal, S. & Morelli, M., 2024. "Social Structure, State, and Economic Activity," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2416, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
  • Handle: RePEc:cam:camdae:2416
    Note: sg472
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic Activity; Networks; Social Networks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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