Abstract

This study looks at the relationship between work ethic and economic growth across cultures. The findings indicated substantively significant results based on the question sets found in the GLOBE survey. Work priorities have shifted based on human need. In this study multiple waves of the GLOBE survey are used to determine socio-economic trends. The results indicated that work ethic grows as a countries’ priorities change from having higher motivation to work in poorer economies, to having lower motivation to work in wealthier economies. In fact, work priorities have shifted from working for material security/necessity in poorer economies to working for intrinsic needs in wealthier countries. This study supported aspects of modernization theory, cultural determinism (primacy), and that culture, specifically work ethic, does have a substantively significant effect on GNI per capita and GDP per capita. The ideas of achievement motivation theory and that cultural values only change generationally were challenged.