What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to understand how costly social norms change under social pressures and influence.

July 10, 2026Open Access

The dynamics of costly norms

SJSam JindaniNational University of Singapore HYH Peyton YoungUniversity of Oxford

Puntos clave

This research aims to understand how costly social norms change under social pressures and influence.
Developed a theoretical framework to explain dynamics of social norms.
Analyzed historical and contemporary examples of costly norms.
Lended itself to empirical estimation for further testing.
Identified different dynamics of costly norms, including abrupt collapse and gradual erosion.
Demonstrated that certain interventions might be counterproductive.
Provided insights on designing effective policies to address costly norms.

Resumen

Abstract Social norms that are costly for individuals are held in place because of social pressure to conform. Historical examples include duelling in Europe and footbinding in China; contemporary examples include female genital cutting and wasteful consumption. Such norms exhibit varied dynamics. Some collapse after staying unchanged for centuries, while others erode gradually. Still others escalate gradually before collapsing. This paper develops a theoretical framework that explains these patterns in terms of different forces of social influence and lends itself to empirical estimation. The analysis can guide the design of policies aimed at mitigating or eliminating costly norms, and shows that some interventions can be counterproductive.

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