Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP4942
Authors: Victor Ginsburgh; Ignacio Ortuno-Ortin; Shlomo Weber
Abstract: In this paper we adopt the Selten-Pool model (1993) framework of language acquisition that is based on the notion of communicative benefits and learning costs. We consider a model with languages that serve as imperfect substitutes and show that under supermodularity of the communicative benefits function and some other mild conditions, there exists a unique interior linguistic equilibrium. We then derive a demand function for foreign languages that we estimate for English, French, German and Spanish in 13 European countries.
Keywords: communicative benefits; estimation of demand functions for languages; European Union; languages; learning costs; linguistic distances
JEL Codes: C72; O52; Z13
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| number of individuals who speak a particular language (J11) | gross communicative benefits derived from learning that language (Z13) |
| linguistic distance (Y80) | likelihood of learning a foreign language (I25) |
| historical and cultural factors (N30) | attractiveness of a language for learning (C52) |