This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Values and Economic Performance: Theory and some Evidence from Kenya

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Gilad Aharonovitz
Elizabeth Kabura Nyaga () (School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University)
Abstract

Policy, saving rates, human capital, etc. are possible explanations for poor economic performance, but while these factors are changeable, underdevelopment persists. Looking for an unchangeable factor, we construct a theory for the effect of values, such as moral values, risk-taking, and responsibility to others, on economic performance, and demonstrate it using a model in which responsibility for parents prevents development. We construct data of economic performance and values of seven tribes in Kenya by inferring values from children's stories, and verify the model. Thus, we open a door for the quantitative analysis of the effect of values over the economy.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://www.ses.wsu.edu/PDFFiles/WorkingPapers/Aharonovitz/WP_2008-18_ValuesK_short_abstract.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: First version, 2008
Download Restriction: no

Publisher Info
Paper provided by School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University in its series Working Papers with number 2008-18.

Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Length: 38 pages
Date of creation: Aug 2008
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:wsu:wpaper:aharonovitz-1

Contact details of provider:
Postal: PO Box 646210, Pullman, WA 99164-646210
Phone: 509-335-5555
Fax: 509-335-1173
Web page: http://www.ses.wsu.edu/
More information through EDIRC

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Danielle Engelhardt).

Related research
Keywords: economic development; values; social norms; Kenya;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
O10 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
O55 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? There are over 21000 authors registered on RePEc Author Service.

This page was last updated on 2009-11-23.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.