Norms and norm change - driven by social Kantian preferences

Abstract

Norms indicate which behaviors are common and/or considered morally right. They may differ across space and time. I show that social-Kantian preferences, which incorporate two hitherto neglected factors, can explain this. Kantian moral concerns drive personal moral norms and unconditional following thereof; attitudes towards making a different material sacrifice than others motivate conditioning own on others’ behavior. Conditions promoting/hampering spontaneous changes in the behavioral norm (the modal behavior) are identified: individuals with strong Kantian concerns are leaders of social change; those with weak Kantian concerns but strong enough inequity aversion are followers. Implications for policy interventions aimed at changing norms, and important ifferences with other preference classes (altruism and conformity) are discussed.

Keywords

JEL codes

Reference

Ingela Alger, “Norms and norm change - driven by social Kantian preferences”, TSE Working Paper, n. 24-1605, December 2024, revised January 2026.