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How can Language be linked to Economics? A Survey of Two Strands of Research

Author

Listed:
  • Weiguo Zhang

    (Center fo Economic Rsearch, Shandong University, 27 South Shanda Road, Shandong, P.R.China,250100)

  • Gilles Grenier

    (Department of Economics, University of Ottawa, 55 Laurier E., Ottawa,Ontario)

Abstract

As the use of languages is playing a more and more important role in economic activities with the globalization of the world economy, there is growing interest in the relationship between language and economic theory. The rapidly expanding literature in this field, however, is highly fragmented. It is difficult to tell what this field of study focuses on, what has actually been investigated, and what remains to be studied. The authors attempt to review, assess and categorize the major orientations of the research on the economics of language. Those include a traditional strand of research that has focused on language and economic status, the dynamic development of languages, and language policy and planning, as well as a new strand based on game theory and pragmatics. The authors propose the use of the term “Language and economics” to define this area of research.

Suggested Citation

  • Weiguo Zhang & Gilles Grenier, 2012. "How can Language be linked to Economics? A Survey of Two Strands of Research," Working Papers 1206E, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:ott:wpaper:1206e
    as

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    File URL: http://sciencessociales.uottawa.ca/economics/sites/socialsciences.uottawa.ca.economics/files/1206E.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Jacob Glazer & Ariel Rubinstein, 2005. "On the Pragmatics of Persuasion: A Game Theoretical Approach," Levine's Bibliography 784828000000000166, UCLA Department of Economics.
    3. Gilles Grenier, 1987. "Earnings by Language Group in Quebec in 1980 and Emigration from Quebec between 1976 and 1981," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 20(4), pages 774-791, November.
    4. Rubinstein,Ariel, 2000. "Economics and Language," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521789905, January.
    5. , & ,, 2006. "A study in the pragmatics of persuasion: a game theoretical approach," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 1(4), pages 395-410, December.
    6. Aldashev, Alisher & Gernandt, Johannes & Thomsen, Stephan L., 2009. "Language usage, participation, employment and earnings: Evidence for foreigners in West Germany with multiple sources of selection," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 330-341, June.
    7. Jacob Glazer & Ariel Rubinstein, 2004. "On Optimal Rules of Persuasion," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 72(6), pages 1715-1736, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Brian Fabo & Miroslav Beblavý & Karolien Lenaerts, 2017. "The importance of foreign language skills in the labour markets of Central and Eastern Europe: assessment based on data from online job portals," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 44(3), pages 487-508, August.
    2. ALHENDI Osama, 2019. "Language Policy And Economics: Does English Language Accelerate The Wheel Of Development In The Economies Or Not? A Review," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(2), pages 366-379, December.
    3. François GRIN, 2015. "La valeur des langues dans l’activité professionnelle," Working Papers P139, FERDI.
    4. Fabo, B., 2017. "Towards an understanding of job matching using web data," Other publications TiSEM b8b877f2-ae6a-495f-b6cc-9, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    5. François GRIN, 2015. "La valeur des langues dans l’activité professionnelle," Working Papers P139, FERDI.
    6. Gilles Grenier & Weiguo Zhang, 2021. "The value of language skills," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 205-205, March.
    7. Elias Sanidas, 2020. "Language as an Institution: A Note on the Use of the Terms Finance and Economics in the Greek Language and its Consequences for the Greek Society and Economy," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 70(3-4), pages 29-41, July-Dece.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economics of language; language skill; human capital; language planning; game theory; pragmatics.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • C79 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Other

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