Estimating Social Norm Complementarities

TL;DR

This paper models social norm interactions considering technological and social complementarities, estimates these effects using data from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, and explores policy implications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model capturing social norm complementarities and estimates them empirically across multiple norms and countries.

Findings

Social returns are significant across all norms studied.

Female genital cutting and child marriage show complementarities, especially in Sierra Leone.

Polygyny and child marriage act as social substitutes, notably in Nigeria.

Abstract

We develop a model of choice over social norms that allows for complementarities along two dimensions: \textit{technological}, analogous to complementarities between consumption goods, and social, capturing returns from conformity. Together, these determine whether two norms are complements, substitutes, or independent, as defined by how the equilibrium prevalence of one norm responds to a marginal shift in the utility of another. We estimate the model using repeated cross-sections from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, focusing on female genital cutting, polygyny, and child marriage. Social returns are significant across all specifications. For female genital cutting and child marriage, we find evidence of complementarities, especially strong in Sierra Leone. For polygyny and child marriage, we find evidence of social substitutability, particularly in Nigeria. We interpret these differences using insights from anthropology. Finally, we iterate the model forward to study policy counterfactuals, assessing the potential effects of legal reforms and social interventions.