Identity-Driven Cooperation Versus Competition

10 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2016 Last revised: 18 Nov 2021

See all articles by Dennis J. Snower

Dennis J. Snower

University of Kiel - Institute for World Economics (IfW); Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Steven Bosworth

Kiel Institute for the World Economy

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Abstract

This paper seeks to extend the domain of identity economics by exploring motivational foundations of in-group cooperation and out-group competition. On this basis, we explore the reflexive interaction between individual economic decisions and social identities in response to technological change in market economies. Our analysis explores how technological change falling on marketable goods and services, rather than nonmarket caring relationships, leads to a restructuring of identities, which increases the scope of individualism and promotes positional competition at the expense of caring activities. Since positional competition generates negative externalities while caring activities create positive ones, these developments have important welfare implications.

Keywords: technological progress, identity, cooperation, reflexivity, motivation, bowling alone

JEL Classification: A13, D03, D62, D71, I31, O10

Suggested Citation

Snower, Dennis J. and Bosworth, Steven, Identity-Driven Cooperation Versus Competition. IZA Discussion Paper No. 9705, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2731968

Dennis J. Snower (Contact Author)

University of Kiel - Institute for World Economics (IfW) ( email )

Duesternbrooker Weg 120
D-24118 Kiel
Germany
+49+431-8814-235 (Phone)

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Steven Bosworth

Kiel Institute for the World Economy ( email )

P.O. Box 4309
Kiel, Schleswig-Hosltein D-24100
Germany

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
28
Abstract Views
481
PlumX Metrics