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Work ethic and economic development: An investigation into Weber’s thesis

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  • Schilpzand, Annemiek
  • de Jong, Eelke

Abstract

This paper argues that the capitalist spirit associated with Max Weber’s Protestant Ethics is not associated with Protestantism but with the modernization phase of economic development. A preference for hard work is also found amongst other religions and non-religious people at times of high economic growth and decreases after the modernization phase. We find a robust relationship between the level and growth of economic development during an individual’s childhood and this individual’s work ethic. An epidemiological approach is applied to indicate that the direction of the relationship runs from growth and the level of economic development at the time values are formed, to work ethic. Protestant adherence has a positive relation with work ethic, but this relation is less robust than economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Schilpzand, Annemiek & de Jong, Eelke, 2021. "Work ethic and economic development: An investigation into Weber’s thesis," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:66:y:2021:i:c:s0176268020301063
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2020.101958
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohammad Tariq Al Fozaie, 2023. "Behavior, religion, and socio-economic development: a synthesized theoretical framework," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Protestant ethic; Work ethic; Economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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