Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP8013
Authors: Yuriy Gorodnichenko; Grard Roland
Abstract: We construct an endogenous growth model that includes a cultural variable along the dimension of individualism-collectivism. The model predicts that more individualism leads to more innovation because of the social rewards associated with innovation in an individualist culture. This cultural effect may offset the negative effects of bad institutions on growth. Collectivism leads to efficiency gains relative to individualism, but these gains are static, unlike the dynamic effect of individualism on growth through innovation. Using genetic data as instruments for culture we provide strong evidence of a causal effect of individualism on income per worker and total factor productivity as well as on innovation. The baseline genetic markers we use are interpreted as proxies for cultural transmission but others have a direct effect on individualism and collectivism, in line with recent advances in biology and neuro-science. The effect of culture on long-run growth remains very robust even after controlling for the effect of institutions and other factors. We also provide evidence of a two-way causal effect between culture and institutions.
Keywords: culture; growth; institutions
JEL Codes: O10; O30; O31
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| individualism (P14) | innovation (O35) |
| innovation (O35) | economic growth (O49) |
| individualism (P14) | income per worker (J31) |
| individualism (P14) | total factor productivity (TFP) (D24) |
| individualism (P14) | economic outcomes (F61) |
| culture (Z00) | institutions (D02) |
| genetic distance (C49) | individualism (P14) |