Reflections on the economic aspects of multilingualism in Transylvania

Using an economic perspective, the study is dealing with fairness problems associated with language use in multi-ethnic Transylvania. It showcases empirical findings to demonstrate that asymmetric bilingualism in its current state creates economic disadvantages for linguistic minorities. Among the theoretical solutions offered by the economics of language, it examines the possibility of the introduction of the English, as a lingua franca and some of the institutional conditions for a symmetric bilingualism. It argues that these scenarios are highly improbable to be accepted by the linguistic majority especially if they are backed by confrontational ethical arguments used so far. As an alternative it analyses the promotion of multilingualism through the economy with reference to the extra revenues and aggregate welfare benefits ethno-linguistic diversity can have for the society as a whole.