Social Norms Theory and Development Economics

Social norms affect almost every aspect of people’s lives, and can be an obstacle to or support economic development. This paper outlines what social norms are and how they work, providing examples from everyday life and from development case studi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Eriksson, Lina
Format:	Working Paper
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2015
Subjects:	YOUNG WOMEN FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION SOCIAL INEQUALITY GENITAL MUTILATION TEENAGERS SPOUSE INTEGRITY HEALTH IMPACT MORAL NORMS SOCIAL ISSUES ETHNOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE PROPERTY CIVIL WAR HUSBANDS MATERNITY LEAVE SOCIETIES PARTICIPATORY PROCESS COOPERATION KNOWLEDGE ALCOHOL FAMILY MEMBERS GENDER NORMS SOCIAL PRACTICE ANTHROPOLOGY LAND TENURE SOCIAL LIFE ROLE MODELS PHILOSOPHERS SOCIAL NORMS POPULATION MACHISMO TELEVISION NETWORK EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PEACE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GENDER RELATIONS UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES POPULATIONS SOCIAL CHANGE WOMEN GENITAL CUTTING SAFE SEX ABUSE CIRCUMCISION CONDOMS WOMAN ETHNICITY GENDER ECONOMIC GROWTH SOCIAL INTERACTIONS STUDENTS MASCULINITY BOTH SEXES SOCIAL MARKETING DEVELOPMENT POLICY SOCIAL GROUP ADOPTION LIVING‐STANDARDS RESPONSIBILITY MORALITY FEMININITY DEPENDENCE POWER CREATION HUMAN BEHAVIOUR EDUCATION OF WOMEN KIDS POLICY POLICY‐MAKERS SEXUAL VIOLENCE DRUGS EVERYDAY LIFE TELEVISION SEX POSTERS YOUNG MEN HOUSEHOLDS BELIEFS DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS RELIGION HOUSEHOLD INCOME POLICY DISCUSSIONS PENSIONS PROPERTY RIGHTS NORMS PARTNERS POLICY MAKERS PROGRESS PREGNANCIES SOCIOBIOLOGY TV INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS SEXUALITY SOCIAL MEANINGS NATIONALS GIRLS SOCIAL INFORMATION ETHICS GOOD PUBLIC SUPPORT CARE FOR CHILDREN RADIO PEER PRESSURE MOTHER RELIGIOUS REASONS RESPONSIBILITIES SOCIAL SECURITY HUMAN BEHAVIOR PUBLIC SERVICE DISCRIMINATION COMMUNICATION ENERGY CONSUMPTION ETHNOGRAPHY FEMALE CHILDREN SPOUSES FEMALE “CIRCUMCISION POLICY‐ MAKERS SOAP OPERAS RITUAL TABOO MARKET ECONOMY POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER HISTORY MARRIED COUPLES RESPECT FEMALE SEXUALITY PUBLIC POLICY HOUSEHOLD WORK POLITICAL CHANGE ALTRUISM CULTURES PRINCIPLES FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING OWNERSHIP OF LAND MUTILATION SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CHILD‐REARING CONDOM EXOGAMY SOCIOLOGY POLICIES SURVEYS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN MEDIA YOUNG PEOPLE SYMBOLS SOCIAL POLICY SOCIETY CHILD CARE FUNERALS MARRIAGE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES CONDOM USE SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY RESEARCH FEWER PEOPLE FAIRNESS IMPACT ON CHILDREN MODERNIZATION RURAL COMMUNITIES GENDER EQUALITY PARENTAL LEAVE WAR FATHERHOOD MANDATES FAMILIES ANTHROPOLOGIST GENDER ROLES SOCIAL STATUS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY SOCIAL PRESSURE FAMILY
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/10/25171546/social-norms-theory-development-economics http://hdl.handle.net/10986/22863

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Summary:	Social norms affect almost every aspect of people’s lives, and can be an obstacle to or support economic development. This paper outlines what social norms are and how they work, providing examples from everyday life and from development case studies. Sometimes not much can be done about changing undesirable social norms. In those cases, development economists need to be aware of how the existence of those norms can impact the effects of the policies they advocate. But of particular importance to development economists is the ways in which social norms can be changed, at least under some circumstances. Understanding of social norm change is still patchy at best, but the paper outlines the theoretical underpinnings of change, with empirical evidence from various policies aimed at changing social norms. However, some of those policies raise ethical concerns that would require attention.

Social Norms Theory and Development Economics

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