Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Current economic growth theories have unexplained parts, and do not take into\naccount cultural variables at national levels. Since economic life happens in a\nsocial context, this paper investigates further how the norms and goals of a\nsociety affect economic development. The paper gives an overview of earlier\nresearch on cultural variables and economic growth. Variables which are\nidentified as important are religion, social capital, political preferences, attitudes\ntowards institutions, and Hofstede’s cultural variables. The paper also tests\nearlier findings empirically, and find that general trust in a society is significant\nfor economic growth, supporting findings from social capital theory. In addition,\nincreased religiosity and power distance is found to be negatively associated with\neconomic development, while individualism is positively associated. However,\nthese relationships are not strong.
Author: Thorbjørn Leiknes
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2499454539