The Economic Value of Virtue

Virtue is modeled as an asset that women can use in the marriage market: since men value virginity in prospective mates, preserving her virtue increases a woman's chances of marrying a high-status husband, and therefore allows for upward social mobility. Consistent with some historical and anthropological evidence, we find that the prevalence (and the value) of virginity, across societies and over time, can be influenced by socio-economic factors such as male income inequality, gender differences, social status and stratification, and overall economic development.mating, marriage, cultural values, social classes, gender

The economic value of virtue

We model virtue as an asset on the marriage market : since men value virginity in prospective mates, preserving their virtue increases girls' chances of getting a "good" husband, and therefore allows for upward social mobility. Consistent with some historical and anthropological evidence, we find that the diffusion (and the social value) of virginity, across societies and over time, can be determined, among others, by income inequality, gender differences, social stratification and overall economic development. This is a further example of how cultural and moral values can be affected by economic factors.Mating, marriage, cultural value, social classes, inequality.

The economic value of virtue

Virtue is modelled as an asset that women can use in the marriage market: since men value virginity in prospective mates, preserving her virtue increases a woman’s chances of marrying a high-status husband, and therefore allows for upward social mobility. Consistent with some historical and anthropological evidence, we find that the prevalence (and the value) of virginity, across societies and overtime, can be influenced by socio-economic factors such as male income inequality, gender differences, social status and stratification, and overall economic development.Mating;Marriage;Culturalvalues;Socialclasses;Gender

Brain Drain, Inequality and Growth

This paper provides an additional channel through which inequality may influence growth, when labor migration is taken into account. In fact, we show that human capital distribution is crucial to determine whether allowing migration of the most skilled workers from a developing country may be beneficial for growth, from the perspective of the source economy. The net linked to a brain drain is more likely to be negative in the short run if human capital is very unequally distributed. In addition, we find that econometric analysis supports our theoretical claims : the estimation of different growth equations in a cross-section of developing countries, based on a brand new datset on skilled migration (Docquier and Marfouk, 2004) shows that a brain drain can have a positive impact only when it is associated with low inequality (in income or schooling).High-skilled migration; Inequality; Education

The Political Economy of Immigrants Naturalization

This paper provides the first political economy model in which self-interested natives decide when voting rights should be granted to foreign-born workers. This choice is driven by the maximization of th net gains from immigration. We focus on the provision of a public good : immigrants could enlarge the tax base by increasing the total workforce, but at the same time they influence the tax rate by eventually exerting their political rights. We find that the quantity and the quality (human capital) of perspective immigrants, the political composition of the native population, and the sensitivity of the migration choice to voting rights, are all decisive factors in determining the political choice over the optimal timing of naturalizationImmigration; Naturalization policies; Voting; Public goods

Brain drain, R&D-cost differentials and the innovation gap

This paper aims at explaining why countries with comparable levels of education still experience notable differences in terms of R&D and innovation. High-skilled migration, ultimately linked to differences in R&D costs, might be responsible for the persistence of such a gap. In fact, in a model where human capital accumulation and innovation are strategic complements, we show that allowing labor outflows may strengthen educational incentives in the lagging economy if migration is probabilistic in nature, but at the same time reduces the share of innovative production. Income (growth) might be consequently affected, and a positive migration chance is very unlikely to act as a substitute for educational subsidies.Innovation; Education; Brain drain.

The economic value of virtue

URL des Documents de travail : http://ces.univ-paris1.fr/cesdp/CESFramDP2008.htmClassification JEL : D1, D31, J12, Z13.Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 2008.101 - ISSN : 1955-611XWe model virtue as an asset on the marriage market : since men value virginity in prospective mates, preserving their virtue increases girls' chances of getting a "good" husband, and therefore allows for upward social mobility. Consistent with some historical and anthropological evidence, we find that the diffusion (and the social value) of virginity, across societies and over time, can be determined, among others, by income inequality, gender differences, social stratification and overall economic development. This is a further example of how cultural and moral values can be affected by economic factors.A l'aide d'un simple modèle théorique, où la virginité peut constituer, pour les femmes, un actif sur le marché du mariage, on trouve que la diffusion de cette valeur est affectée par plusieurs variables économiques, comme par exemple la distribution des revenus et les inégalités homme/femme. Nos résultats sont compatibles avec les conclusions de plusieurs études socio-anthropologiques sur la valeur de la virginité dans des contextes sociaux différents et à travers le temps

Brain drain, R&D-cost differentials and the innovation gap

JEL classification: F22; O3; I2; J24.International audienceThis paper aims at explaining why countries with comparable levels of education still experience notable differences in terms of R&D and innovation. High-skilled migration, ultimately linked to differences in R&D costs, might be responsible for the persistence of such a gap. In fact, in a model where human capital accumulation and innovation are strategic complements, we show that allowing labor outflows may strengthen educational incentives in the lagging economy if migration is probabilistic in nature, but at the same time reduces the share of innovative production. Income (growth) might be consequently affected, and a positive migration chance is very unlikely to act as a substitute for educational subsidies

Life Expectancy and the Environment

We present an OLG model in which life expectancy and environmental quality dynamics are jointly determined. Agents may invest in environmental care, depending on how much they expect to live. In turn, environmental conditions affect life expectancy. As a result, our model produces a positive correlation between longevity and environmental quality, both in the long-run and along the transition path. Eventually, multiple equilibria may also arise: some countries might be caught in a low-life-expectancy / low-environmental-quality trap. This outcome is consistent with stylized facts relating life expectancy and environmental performance measures. We also discuss the welfare and policy implications of the intergenerational externalities generated by individual choices. Finally, we show that our results are robust to the introduction of growth dynamics based on physical or human capital accumulation.environmental quality, life expectancy, poverty traps, human capital