Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/307231 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17407
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In today's world where growth and capital accumulation are the norm, many people still adhere to zero-sum thinking, the belief that gains for one party can only come at the expense of another party. The perception of economic exchange as zero-sum can lead to excessive competition and uncooperative behavior. We investigate social mobility as a driver of zero-sum beliefs by leveraging worldwide survey data and recently published data on intergenerational educational mobility. We find that a higher probability of experienced downward mobility in an individual's cohort and education group is associated with increased zero-sum beliefs. Consistent with gender-specific status concerns, experienced downward mobility only strengthens zero-sum beliefs for men.
Subjects: 
zero-sum
social mobility
intergenerational mobility
belief formation
gender norms
JEL: 
D83
Z13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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