Citation

Hauk E, Immordino G. Econ. J. 2014; 124(579): 1040-1065.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Royal Economic Society, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1111/ecoj.12078

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We develop a model of cultural transmission where television plays a role in socialisation. We study the coverage of different cultural traits by a profit-maximising TV industry and the resulting cultural dynamics. A monopolist covers both traits, but grants more coverage to the most profitable group. In a competitive TV industry each channel specialises on one trait. This might lead to cultural extinction, but only for sufficiently large majorities. Cultural extinction is more likely in a competitive than in a monopolistic TV industry. Overall our model predicts that cultural extinction can only occur under very special circumstances.

Language: en