Social Networks and Mobility in Dynamic Economies

提案编号：0617847机构：布朗大学NSF计划：经济学主要研究者：Munshi，Kaivan题目：社会流动网络和动态经济中的流动性摘要目前人们普遍认为，社交网络是决定许多环境下经济结果的重要机构，特别是在发展中国家。 经济学中关于网络的文献认为，虽然这些机构在经济变化面前可能具有弹性，但随着市场的扩大和效率的提高，它们将衰退。 这项研究认为，虽然传统的网络可能会限制流动性，但在动态经济中，新的网络也在不断形成。本研究使用在印度和美国收集的三个新的独特数据集，研究网络如何形成并鼓励动态经济体的流动性。 第一项申请的依据是印度钻石业结构的变化。 使用新的公司层面的数据，本研究将探讨社交网络，允许低种姓Kathiawaris，谁迄今为止没有经验的行业，成功地与既定的社区竞争，并了解在这个行业的基础社区网络和市场结构之间的动态互动。 第二个应用是美国的生物医学研发实验室，据观察，由外国研究人员领导的实验室有不成比例的实验室工作人员来自领导人的原籍国。 他们的论点是，领导者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本国的工人表现出狭隘的偏好。 第三个项目着眼于印度社交网络和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，探讨身份政治的经济学，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发挥的作用。并适应不断变化的情况，以加强在若干充满活力的经济和社会环境中的流动性，并在此过程中塑造市场的变化，并受市场变化的影响。例如，钻石项目揭示了社会网络在全球化经济体中发展创业精神方面的作用。 研究结果将为企业家精神、贸易、研发和民主化等社会政策的发展提供指导。 这些都是在全球化世界中特别是低收入国家和整个世界经济的体制发展的关键经验教训。 最后，为这个研究项目收集的独特数据集将对其他研究人员有用。

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.