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The Volatility of Survey Measures of Culture and Its Consequences

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  • Zanella, Giulio

    (University of Bologna)

  • Bellani, Marina M.

Abstract

Common measures of cultural attitudes, such as those constructed from the World Values Survey, are characterized by substantial within-country volatility. This volatility is at odds with the notion of culture adopted in economics: a set of slow-moving traits that determine preferences and expectations transmitted from one generation to the next via family or social interactions. The insufficient persistence of survey proxies for such traits may compromise empirical studies of culture as a determinant of economic outcomes. We illustrate this point via a thorough replication, using the most recent WVS waves, of analyses carried out previously for regions in Europe.

Suggested Citation

  • Zanella, Giulio & Bellani, Marina M., 2019. "The Volatility of Survey Measures of Culture and Its Consequences," IZA Discussion Papers 12730, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12730
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    2. Guglielmo Briscese & Maddalena Grignani & Stephen Stapleton, 2022. "Crises and Political Polarization: Towards a Better Understanding of the Timing and Impact of Shocks and Media," Papers 2202.12339, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2023.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    World Values Survey; culture; development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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