Scholarlink

<p>This study reconsiders the relevance of modernization theory in explaining cross-national and temporal variation in work ethic. According to the scarcity hypothesis, rising affluence reduces material concerns and leads to a decline in work-related moral norms. Yet three limitations remain: the unclear nature of individual-level mechanisms, the risk of ecological bias in macro-level research, and the uncertain impact of short-term shocks such as the 2008 financial crisis. Drawing on European Values Study data (1999–2017) from 18 countries, we examine how economic security and education shape attitudes toward work. Using cross-classified random effects models, we disentangle the effects of both predictors at individual and contextual levels. Results show that work ethic has remained remarkably stable over time, including during the crisis period. While economic security has limited explanatory power, education consistently emerges as the strongest and most robust predictor across countries and waves. These findings suggest that cross-national differences in work ethic reflect differences in educational composition more than in material conditions. We argue that education acts as a distinct cultural force, reshaping how modernization theory links affluence to value change.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Twenty Years of Work Ethic in Europe. A Multilevel Analysis Using Modernization Theory Framework

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月21日

查看全文
  • Raphaël Piters

摘要

This study reconsiders the relevance of modernization theory in explaining cross-national and temporal variation in work ethic. According to the scarcity hypothesis, rising affluence reduces material concerns and leads to a decline in work-related moral norms. Yet three limitations remain: the unclear nature of individual-level mechanisms, the risk of ecological bias in macro-level research, and the uncertain impact of short-term shocks such as the 2008 financial crisis. Drawing on European Values Study data (1999–2017) from 18 countries, we examine how economic security and education shape attitudes toward work. Using cross-classified random effects models, we disentangle the effects of both predictors at individual and contextual levels. Results show that work ethic has remained remarkably stable over time, including during the crisis period. While economic security has limited explanatory power, education consistently emerges as the strongest and most robust predictor across countries and waves. These findings suggest that cross-national differences in work ethic reflect differences in educational composition more than in material conditions. We argue that education acts as a distinct cultural force, reshaping how modernization theory links affluence to value change.