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Culture, religion and productivity: Evidence from European regions

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  • Anneli Kaasa

Abstract

This study investigates how a region’s labour productivity could be influenced by cultural dimensions and religion – factors that have not received much attention in the previous literature. As another novelty, regional-level data (78 regions of 22 European countries) were analysed. Correlation and regression analysis was performed. The results showed individualism to be positively and masculinity and power distance to be negatively related to labour productivity. When cultural dimensions were included, both general religiosity and the achievement motivation indicator capturing the values of a strong work ethic turned out to be insignificant.

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  • Anneli Kaasa, 2016. "Culture, religion and productivity: Evidence from European regions," Business and Economic Horizons (BEH), Prague Development Center, vol. 12(1), pages 11-28, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pdc:jrnbeh:v:12:y:2016:i:1:p:11-28
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Productivity; culture; religion; Europe; regions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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