This discussion develops a parsimonious framework for norm dynamics. The interaction between social pressure to conform and older generations’ attachment to past practices generates intergenerational inertia and a persistent wedge between behavior and the frictionless optimum. I characterize the determinants of this wedge and highlight the role of demographic transition. I illustrate the framework’s broader applicability to scientific paradigms and policy reform.
This manuscript discusses the paper The Dynamics of Gender Norms and Fertility Decline by Xican Xi and Anson Zhou. The original paper is available here. The discussion was prepared for the 2025 PHBS–IER Conference on “Demographic Change and Migration: Facts, Models and Policy Implications,” held at Peking University HSBC Business School in Shenzhen, China, on December 20–21, 2025.