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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. Anghel, Brindusa & Rodríguez-Planas, Núria & Sanz-de-Galdeano, Anna, 2020. "Is the math gender gap associated with gender equality? Only in low-income countries," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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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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