The economics of identity

The economics of identity

Key Note

The idea that moral concerns, social norms, and concepts of the self can affect decisions has infiltrated economic research in many domains. One example of such an infiltration is personal privacy. There is considerable confusion and controversy about which aspects of one’s identity require privacy and which don’t, and whether this can be left to individual decision making or calls for formal rules. Another instance where concepts of identity shape economics is the contested issue of what should be up for sale and what should be shielded from markets.