Unraveling the nexus: Culture, cognitive competence, and economic performance across 86 nations (2000–2018)

Numerous studies have explored the complex relationship between culture, cognitive competence, and economic performance globally. However, findings from these investigations vary significantly and occasionally contradict each other. This study delves into this connection by analyzing variables or dimensions from three distinct models of national culture concerning the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the economic strength and growth of 86 nations between 2000 and 2018. Religious affiliations emerge as a significant statistical explanatory factor, accounting for a substantial portion of the variance in overall PISA performance, ranging from 24% to 40%. Remarkably, an underutilized cultural model, the Axiological Cube, surpasses others, exhibiting explanatory power ranging from 45% to 63%. Path analyses rooted in both Human Capital Theory and Cognitive Capitalism Theory reveal that cultural variables exert their influence on economic growth mainly indirectly through their impact on student competence. Cultural variables exhibit robust predictive capacity for overall student competences, as indicated by PISA mean scores. However, they prove inadequate in explaining certain cognitive competence patterns, such as disparities in inequality and subject-specific variations, like mathematics and reading. This study also highlights uncertainties surrounding the effects of Confucianism and East Asian religions, prompting further discussion and investigation.