Social Networks and Mobility in Dynamic Economies

动态经济中的社交网络和流动性

• 批准号: 0617847
• 负责人: Kaivan Munshi
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Brown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-12-01 至 2010-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0617847&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Social; Networks; Mobility; Dynamic; Economies

Proposal No: 0617847 Institution: Brown University NSF Program: ECONOMICS Principal Investigator: Munshi, Kaivan Title: Social Mobility Networks and Mobility in Dynamic EconomiesABSTRACTIt is by now generally agreed that social networks are important institutions that determine economic outcomes in many settings, especially in developing countries. The literature on networks in economics takes the view that while these institutions may be resilient in the face of economic change, they will decay as markets expand and grow more efficient. This research argues that while traditional networks might restrict mobility, new networks are also constantly forming in dynamic economies. This research studies how networks form and encourage mobility in dynamic economies, using three new and unique data sets that have been collected in India and the United States. The first application is based on the changing structure of the Indian diamond industry. Using new firm-level data, this research will examine social networks that permitted low caste Kathiawaris, who hitherto had no experience in the industry to compete successfully with the established communities, and to understand the dynamic interaction between the underlying community networks and market structure in this industry. The second application is to US biomedical R&D labs, where it is observed that labs headed by foreign investigators have a disproportionate number of lab-staff from the heads' origin countries. The argument is that heads exploit their home connections to solve an information problem and pick the most able researchers, instead of simply showing a parochial preference for workers from their own countries. The third project looks at the link between social networks and local democracy in India, using data from a new survey in rural India to explore the economics of identity politics in investigating the role played by caste networks in mobilizing resources for their members through the democratic political process.The scientific merit of this research project is a better understand how social networks form, and adapt to changing circumstances so as to enhance mobility in several dynamic economic and social settings and, in the process, shape and be shaped by changes in the market. For example, the diamond project sheds light on the role social network plays in the development of entrepreneurship in globalizing economies. The results of this research will provide guidance for several social policies, such as the development of entrepreneurship, trade, R&D, and democratization. These are key lessons for institutional development in low income countries in particular and the world economy generally in a globalizing world. Finally, the unique data sets collected for this research project will be useful to other researchers.

机构：布朗大学国家科学基金会项目：经济学首席研究员：Munshi， Kaivan题目：动态经济中的社会流动网络和流动性摘要目前人们普遍认为，在许多情况下，社会网络是决定经济结果的重要机构，特别是在发展中国家。经济学中有关网络的文献认为，尽管这些机构在面对经济变化时可能具有弹性，但随着市场的扩张和效率的提高，它们将会衰退。这项研究认为，虽然传统网络可能会限制流动性，但在充满活力的经济体中，新的网络也在不断形成。本研究利用在印度和美国收集的三个新的独特数据集，研究了动态经济体中网络如何形成并鼓励流动性。第一个应用是基于印度钻石产业结构的变化。利用新的企业层面的数据，本研究将考察允许低种姓kathawaris（迄今为止在该行业没有经验）与已建立的社区成功竞争的社会网络，并了解该行业中潜在社区网络和市场结构之间的动态互动。第二项应用是针对美国生物医学研发实验室，在这些实验室中，由外国研究人员领导的实验室中，来自研究人员原籍国的工作人员比例过高。这种观点认为，大脑利用他们的家庭关系来解决信息问题，并挑选最有能力的研究人员，而不是简单地对来自自己国家的工作人员表现出狭隘的偏好。第三个项目着眼于社会网络与印度地方民主之间的联系，使用来自印度农村的一项新调查的数据，探索身份政治的经济学，调查种姓网络在通过民主政治进程为其成员调动资源方面所起的作用。这个研究项目的科学价值在于更好地理解社会网络是如何形成的，如何适应不断变化的环境，从而在几个动态的经济和社会环境中增强流动性，并在这个过程中塑造和被市场的变化所塑造。例如，钻石项目揭示了社会网络在全球化经济中创业发展中所起的作用。本文的研究结果将对创业、贸易、研发和民主化等社会政策的发展提供指导。这些都是在全球化的世界中低收入国家特别是世界经济体制发展的关键经验教训。最后，为本研究项目收集的独特数据集将对其他研究人员有用。