The economics of language policy and planning

Bengt-Arne Wickström; Michele Gazzola

doi:10.4324/9780429448843-12

The economics of language policy and planning

Bengt-Arne Wickström
, Michele Gazzola

Andrássy Universität Budapest

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter uses elementary economic welfare theory to analyse language policy and planning. Government policy is motivated and justified by problems of market failure (inefficiencies) in a laisser-faire situation as well as by a wish for equity and fairness between different individuals. Inefficiency is shown to be a consequence of different properties of language-related goods. Cost–benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis are methods for applying theoretical considerations to practical problems. Here, the costs (structures) of different language planning measures are important. As an illustration, it is shown that the very common ‘percentage rule’ for implementing policy measures can lead to undesired results.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Routledge Handbook of Language Policy and Planning
Editors	Michele Gazzola, François Grin, Linda Cardinal, Kathleen Heugh
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	10
Pages	158-171
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Electronic)	9780429828928
ISBN (Print)	9781138328198
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429448843-12
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 29 Sept 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 selection and editorial matter, Michele Gazzola, François Grin, Linda Cardinal, and Kathleen Heugh.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Welfare economics
language policy
language planning
cost analysis
public goods and market failure
Externality
Minority Languages

Access to Document

10.4324/9780429448843-12

Cite this

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KW - language planning

KW - cost analysis

KW - public goods and market failure

KW - Externality

KW - Minority Languages

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The economics of language policy and planning

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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The Routledge Handbook of Language Policy and Planning

Cite this