Felix Weinhardt (European University Viadrina)

Organised within the activities of the Migration Observatory, a Centro Studi Luca d’Agliano – Fondazione Collegio Carlo Alberto joint research initiative funded by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo.

“Immigration and the Evolution of Local Cultural Norms”

Abstract. We study the local evolution of cultural norms in West Germany in reaction to the sudden presence of East Germans who migrated to the West after reunification. These migrants grew up with very high rates of maternal employment, whereas West German families followed the traditional breadwinner-housewife model. We find that West German women increase their labour supply and that this holds within households. We provide additional evidence on stated gender norms, West East friendships, intermarriage, and child care infrastructure. The dynamic evolution of the local effects on labour supply is best explained by local cultural learning and endogenous child care infrastructure.

Joint work with Sophia Schmitz and Jonas Jessen.