Author : Albert Breton
Publisher : Official Languages Support Program Canadian Heritage
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 128 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (31 download)
Book Synopsis Exploring the Economics of Language by : Albert Breton
Download or read book Exploring the Economics of Language written by Albert Breton and published by Official Languages Support Program Canadian Heritage. This book was released on 1999 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume contains papers that offer new and important empirical results on the economic worth of languages as well as new insights into theoretically vexing problems. The first paper makes use of the gravity model to show the importance of a common language as a determinant of bilateral international trade. The second paper critically assesses some of the concepts of supply and demand as applied to language, in particular to language-specific goods and services. The critical analysis is extended to prescriptions regarding language policies. The third paper explores the concept of network externalities that underpin the reality of common languages and offers an analysis of why it is appropriate to think of a lingua franca as a public good. The paper also examines the limitations of these concepts when applied to language issues. The final paper attempts to explain the extinction of languages with reference to the concept of cultural yield.