The protestant work ethic as a cultural phenomenon

Abstract

A central contention of much of the literature about the nature of work values and the meaning of work is that there is (or at least has been) a consensual work ethic operating in modern industrial societies. This premise has surprisingly, rarely been put to the test. In this paper, evidence for a modern work ethic is obtained from the European Values Survey. The link between this work ethic and religion is then explored. While one conclusion of the analysis is that it is still an identifiably Protestant ethic, contextual analysis demonstrates that the effect of a country's religious culture is more potent than the religious beliefs of the individual.

The Relationship between Religiousness and Corporate Social Responsibility Orientation: Are there Differences Between Business Managers and Students?

“…Some studies found that religion and the level of religious fervor of an individual have a positive effect on their ethics (Giorgi and Marsh, 1990). Similarly, Kennedy and Lawton (1996) reported a positive relationship between religiousness and a willingness to behave ethically among American and Ukrainian students.…”

Religiosity and Moral Identity: The Mediating Role of Self-Control

“…Thus, religion must logically precede moral conduct and not be subsequent to it. Indeed, Giorgi and Marsh (1990) have shown that religion and the level of religious fervor of an individual has a positive effect on their ethics. Finally, a look into various religious scriptures and the teachings of religious personalities representing various religions indicates that virtually all religions strongly emphasize morality and ethics (Singh, 2001).…”

Economics of Religion and its Relevance for Economists in Central Europe

“…Na mikroekonomické úrovni se pak výzkum soustřeďuje na to, jak náboženství ovlivňuje morálku a názory jednotlivých lidí. Giorgi a Marsh (1990) ukazují, že náboženství opravdu působí způsobem, který Weber předpokládal, důležitější je však náboženská tradice společnosti než individuální přesvědčení. Arruñada (2010) opět prozkoumal tento problém a došel k závěru, že na rozdíl od Weberova předpokladu mají katolíci a protestanti stejnou pracovní morálku.…”