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Conspicuous consumption for social parity

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  • Chinmayi Srikanth
  • Shubhasis Dey

Abstract

The extant literature on status-signalling primarily adopts Veblen's theory of class to caste and racial identities. This study aims to adopt a more suitable theoretical lens that is more relevant not only for class identities, but also for other identities such as caste and race. By viewing conspicuous consumption within the Stigma-Identity-Threat framework, this study analyses how socially disadvantaged groups in India respond to stigma through their consumption behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Chinmayi Srikanth & Shubhasis Dey, 2023. "Conspicuous consumption for social parity," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-78, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2023-78
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karla Hoff & Mayuresh Kshetramade & Ernst Fehr, 2011. "Caste and Punishment: the Legacy of Caste Culture in Norm Enforcement," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(556), pages 449-475, November.
    2. Rik Linssen & Luuk Kempen & Gerbert Kraaykamp, 2011. "Subjective Well-being in Rural India: The Curse of Conspicuous Consumption," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 101(1), pages 57-72, March.
    3. Besley, Timothy, 1988. "A simple model for merit good arguments," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 371-383, April.
    4. Kevin B. Grier & Daniel L. Hicks & Weici Yuan, 2016. "Marriage Market Matching And Conspicuous Consumption In China," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 54(2), pages 1251-1262, April.
    5. Banerjee, Abhijit & Bertrand, Marianne & Datta, Saugato & Mullainathan, Sendhil, 2009. "Labor market discrimination in Delhi: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 14-27, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social identity; Consumption; Caste; Class; Social status; socioeconomic status; Disadvantaged groups;
    All these keywords.

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