Cultural connections: the relation between cultural tastes and socioeconomic network resources

Previous research has argued that by discussing and demonstrating cultural tastes, people identify shared preferences and group membership. Nevertheless, it remains relatively unclear to what extent cultural tastes are related to the formation of social network relations. The present study therefore examines the relationship between individuals’ highbrow and popular tastes and their socioeconomic network resources (i.e. the network's level and heterogeneity in terms of education and job status). Additionally, it examines to what extent highbrow tastes are more positively related to the network's socioeconomic status level among higher status groups (cultural reproduction) or lower status groups (cultural mobility). Based on Dutch panel data (2009–2013), the analyses yield three main findings. First, cultural tastes are related to the network's socioeconomic status level, but not to its heterogeneity. That is, individuals with more highbrow tastes, have more (non-kin) network members with a higher education/job status and fewer with a lower education/job status – and highbrow tastes are generally more strongly related to the network's socioeconomic status level than popular tastes. However, individuals with more popular tastes do not have a more heterogeneous network in terms of socioeconomic resources, after controlling for network size. Second, the effect of highbrow tastes on the network's socioeconomic status level is stronger than the reverse effect. Third, there are indications that highbrow tastes are more positively related to the network's socioeconomic status level among lower than higher status groups (cultural mobility).