Tastes, geography and culture

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Urban Economics
Year: 2025
Volume: 150
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Colson-Sihra, Eve (not in RePEc) De Sousa, José (not in RePEc) Mayer, Thierry (Sciences Po)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Does geography shape tastes? This paper investigates the geography of tastes using French household surveys from 1974 and 2005. We propose a two-step method: first, we estimate regional tastes using a structural demand system; then, we compute bilateral taste differences and link them to geographic distance. The 1974 results provide evidence of ‘gravity in taste’—that is, geographically closer regions have more similar food tastes. By 2005, this geographic pattern has largely disappeared. However, tastes are not homogenized. Regional diversity persists, with differences in taste determined by sociocultural similarity rather than geographic distance.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:juecon:v:150:y:2025:i:c:s0094119025000658
Journal Field
Urban
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25