Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15576
Authors: Manuel Bagues; Christopher Roth
Abstract: We study the long-run effects of contact with individuals from other regions on beliefs, preferences and national identity. We combine a natural experiment, the random assignment of male conscripts to different locations throughout Spain, with tailored survey data. Being randomly assigned to complete military service outside of one's region of residence fosters contact with conscripts from other regions, and increases sympathy towards people from the region of service, measured several decades later. We also observe an increase in identification with Spain for individuals originating from regions with peripheral nationalism. Our evidence suggests that intergroup exposure in early adulthood can have long-lasting effects on individual preferences and national identity.
Keywords: interregional contact; intergroup exposure; beliefs; preference formation; identity
JEL Codes: R23; D91; Z1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| random assignment to serve outside one's home region (C90) | contact with individuals from other regions (R23) |
| contact with individuals from other regions (R23) | increase in sympathy towards people from the region of service (I39) |
| contact with individuals from other regions (R23) | increase in perceived honesty of people from the region of service (L84) |
| random assignment to serve outside one's home region (C90) | increase in attachment to Spain (N93) |
| random assignment to serve outside one's home region (C90) | increase in pride in being Spanish (N96) |