Bilingualism and Communicative Benefits

Jaskold Gabszewicz, Jean;Ginsburgh, Victor;Weber, Shlomo
(2011) Annals of Economics and Statistics — Vol. 101/102, p. 271-286 (2011)

Files

Gabszewicz-BilingualismCommunicativeBenefits.pdf
  • Open Access
  • Adobe PDF
  • 3.96 MB
Download

Details

Authors
  • Jaskold Gabszewicz, JeanUCLouvain
    Author
  • Ginsburgh, Victor
    Author
  • Weber, Shlomo
    Author
Abstract
We examine patterns of acquiring non-native languages in a model with two languages and heterogenous populations in two countries or regions. We show that both interior and corner linguistic equilibria can emerge, and that the fraction of learners of the foreign language is higher in the country with a larger cost adjusted communicative benefit. We also point out that linguistic equilibria can exhibit insufficient learning which opens the door for welfare-improving policies, which seem to need joint effort by both countries.
Affiliations

Citations

  • APA
  • Chicago
  • FWB

Jaskold Gabszewicz, J., Ginsburgh, V., & Weber, S. (2011). Bilingualism and Communicative Benefits. Annals of Economics and Statistics, 101/102, 271-286. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/218280 (Original work published 2011)