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Family Ties and Civic Virtues: Evidence on Wilson's "Moral Sense"

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  • Martin Ljunge

    (University of Copenhagen and SITE)

Abstract

I establish a positive relationship between family ties and civic virtues, as captured by disapproval of tax and benefit cheating, corruption, and a range of other dimensions of exploiting others for personal gain. I find that family ties are a complement to social capital, using within country evidence from 83 nations and data on second generation immigrants in 29 countries with ancestry in 85 nations. Strong families cultivate universalist values and produce more civic and altruistic individuals. The results provide a constructive role for families in promoting family values that support successful societies with a high state and fiscal capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Ljunge, 2012. "Family Ties and Civic Virtues: Evidence on Wilson's "Moral Sense"," Discussion Papers 12-07, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kuiedp:1207
    as

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    File URL: http://www.econ.ku.dk/english/research/publications/wp/dp_2012/1207.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    19. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/8812 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Martin Ljunge, 2011. "Trust Issues: Evidence from Second Generation Immigrants," Discussion Papers 11-31, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    family ties; civic; family values; cultural transmission; altruism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • H26 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Tax Evasion and Avoidance
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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