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Postmaterialism, Generational Replacement and Value Change: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of the US, Japan, Türkiye and China

Author

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  • Ming-Chang Tsai

    (RCHSS, Academia Sinica and National Taipei University)

  • Ssu-Chin Peng

    (Tunghai University)

Abstract

Postmaterialism has long been considered an expressive value embraced by certain cohorts who grew up in a relatively wealthy environment. This study challenges this generational replacement hypothesis and suggests that value shifts in a population often can be attributed to period effects. By simultaneously observing the changing value trends of the US, Japan, Türkiye and China over 20 years on the basis of the data of the World Values Survey, this study performs an age-period-cohort analysis to effectively differentiate the otherwise knotted effects of age, period and cohort in contexts of different income levels and cultural backgrounds. The results show that cohort characteristics are less obvious than the influences brought about by specific period factors. Additionally, religion appear to be highly influential. Two important contributions are noted. First, more effective estimation of age, period and cohort effects is a necessity for advancing strong evidence-based arguments to understand value shifts toward postmaterialism. Second, subscribing to a new, different value position at a societal level can happen in a short duration with observable cross-sectional differences whose underlying logics need more research attention.

Suggested Citation

  • Ming-Chang Tsai & Ssu-Chin Peng, 2025. "Postmaterialism, Generational Replacement and Value Change: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of the US, Japan, Türkiye and China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 176(1), pages 173-194, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:176:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-024-03453-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03453-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Plamen Akaliyski & Naoko Taniguchi & Joonha Park & Stefan Gehrig & Raül Tormos, 2024. "Values in Crisis: Societal Value Change under Existential Insecurity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 171(1), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Liying Luo, 2013. "Assessing Validity and Application Scope of the Intrinsic Estimator Approach to the Age-Period-Cohort Problem," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(6), pages 1945-1967, December.
    3. Shuai Jin & Yingnan Joseph Zhou, 2021. "An Authoritarian Undercurrent in the Postmaterialist Tide: The Rise of Authoritarianism Among the Younger Generation in China," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(1), pages 90-106, January.
    4. Jagodzinski, Wolfgang, 1983. "Materialism in Japan Reconsidered: Toward a Synthesis of Generational and Life-Cycle Explanations," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 77(4), pages 887-894, December.
    5. Inglehart, Ronald, 1981. "Post-Materialism in an Environment of Insecurity," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 75(4), pages 880-900, December.
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    7. Karabati, Serdar & Cemalcilar, Zeynep, 2010. "Values, materialism, and well-being: A study with Turkish university students," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 624-633, August.
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    10. Plamen Akaliyski & Naoko Taniguchi & Joonha Park & Stefan Gehrig & Raül Tormos, 2024. "Correction: Values in Crisis: Societal Value Change under Existential Insecurity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 171(1), pages 23-24, January.
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