Immigration and the Evolution of Local Cultural Norms

70 Pages Posted: 12 Aug 2019 Last revised: 14 Sep 2023

See all articles by Sophia Schmitz

Sophia Schmitz

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), Students

Felix Weinhardt

Humboldt University of Berlin; London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE)

Abstract

We study the local evolution of cultural norms in West Germany in reaction to the sudden presence of East Germans who migrated to the West after reunification. These migrants grew up with very high rates of maternal employment, whereas West German families followed the traditional breadwinner-housewife model. We find that West German women increase their labor supply and that this holds within household. We provide additional evidence on stated gender norms, West-East friendships, intermarriage, and childcare infrastructure. The dynamic evolution of the local effects on labor supply is best explained by local cultural learning and endogenous childcare infrastructure.

Keywords: gender, local learning, cultural norms, immigration

JEL Classification: J16, J21, D1

Suggested Citation

Schmitz, Sophia and Weinhardt, Felix, Immigration and the Evolution of Local Cultural Norms. IZA Discussion Paper No. 12509, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3435384 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3435384

Sophia Schmitz (Contact Author)

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), Students ( email )

Germany

Felix Weinhardt

Humboldt University of Berlin ( email )

Unter den Linden 6
Berlin, AK Berlin 10099
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.fweinhardt.de

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) ( email )

Houghton Street
London, WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom

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