Victor Ginsburgh and Shlomo Weber
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691136899
- eISBN:
- 9781400838905
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691136899.003.0007
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, History of Economic Thought
This chapter is concerned with the measurement of diversity. It distinguishes two main types of indices: fractionalization indices and disenfranchisement indices. Fractionalization indices capture ...
More
This chapter is concerned with the measurement of diversity. It distinguishes two main types of indices: fractionalization indices and disenfranchisement indices. Fractionalization indices capture the ethnolinguistic mosaic of existing societies. They allow cross-country or cross-regional comparisons and examination of differences between various economic and political systems, institutions, and outcomes influenced by the diversity of societies. The chapter also discusses polarization indices, which are based on the same fundamentals. Polarization, as well as fractionalization, entails several groups with similar or identical members whose linguistic or ethnic characteristics are substantially different from those in other groups. However, in addition to exogenous ethnolinguistic distances between groups, polarization also introduces the idea of identification and alienation. Disenfranchisement indices are related to the notion of linguistic disenfranchisement caused by government policies. In addition, the chapter discusses the links between fractionalization, disenfranchisement, and communication indices, which were introduced in Chapter 3.Less
This chapter is concerned with the measurement of diversity. It distinguishes two main types of indices: fractionalization indices and disenfranchisement indices. Fractionalization indices capture the ethnolinguistic mosaic of existing societies. They allow cross-country or cross-regional comparisons and examination of differences between various economic and political systems, institutions, and outcomes influenced by the diversity of societies. The chapter also discusses polarization indices, which are based on the same fundamentals. Polarization, as well as fractionalization, entails several groups with similar or identical members whose linguistic or ethnic characteristics are substantially different from those in other groups. However, in addition to exogenous ethnolinguistic distances between groups, polarization also introduces the idea of identification and alienation. Disenfranchisement indices are related to the notion of linguistic disenfranchisement caused by government policies. In addition, the chapter discusses the links between fractionalization, disenfranchisement, and communication indices, which were introduced in Chapter 3.
Victor Ginsburgh and Shlomo Weber
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691136899
- eISBN:
- 9781400838905
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691136899.003.0008
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, History of Economic Thought
This chapter discusses applications of the fractionalization, polarization, and disenfranchisement indices introduced in Chapter 6. Fractionalization and polarization indices are used in more and ...
More
This chapter discusses applications of the fractionalization, polarization, and disenfranchisement indices introduced in Chapter 6. Fractionalization and polarization indices are used in more and more econometric studies to check how diversity affects economic outcomes. A rather large number of studies show that diversity exerts negative effects, though this also depends on whether countries are more or less democratic. Negative effects are more likely in dictatorial regimes. Recent papers point to the fact that distance-based indices often have more explanatory power than size-based indices. Disenfranchisement indices are used to examine outcomes of linguistic standardization. These were applied to examine the consequences of restricting the number of languages in some uses in the European Union.Less
This chapter discusses applications of the fractionalization, polarization, and disenfranchisement indices introduced in Chapter 6. Fractionalization and polarization indices are used in more and more econometric studies to check how diversity affects economic outcomes. A rather large number of studies show that diversity exerts negative effects, though this also depends on whether countries are more or less democratic. Negative effects are more likely in dictatorial regimes. Recent papers point to the fact that distance-based indices often have more explanatory power than size-based indices. Disenfranchisement indices are used to examine outcomes of linguistic standardization. These were applied to examine the consequences of restricting the number of languages in some uses in the European Union.
