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Respect, responsibility, and production

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  • Breuer, Janice Boucher
  • McDermott, John

Abstract

We examine the impact of the values respect for others and responsibility on productivity and the accumulation of physical and human capital for a sample of 58 countries. We find that these two core values are important and that their impact is substantial. Respect for others works primarily through productivity whereas responsibility is important to investment in physical and human capital. We also show that respect and responsibility are embedded in institutions and may overcome the negative macroeconomic effects associated with fractionalized societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Breuer, Janice Boucher & McDermott, John, 2009. "Respect, responsibility, and production," MPRA Paper 18111, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:18111
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Soares, Helena & Sequeira, Tiago Neves & Marques, Pedro Macias & Gomes, Orlando & Ferreira-Lopes, Alexandra, 2018. "Social infrastructure and the preservation of physical capital: Equilibria and transitional dynamics," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 321(C), pages 614-632.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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