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We propose a model to study when an intermediate action can
serve as a stepping stone that enables the elimination of a harmful
norm. While the intermediate action may facilitate the first
“step”, it may also become a new norm. We derive intuitive conditions
for stepping stones, which depend on the relative size of social
penalties and intrinsic utility benefits. We propose an econometric
approach to testing whether an intermediate action is a stepping
stone, and apply it to original data on female genital cutting in
Somalia. The analysis shows that the intermediate action may
become the new norm.
