Proeconomic Attitudes and Development: A Cross-cultural Study

Abstract

The study focuses on the impact of culture with differing levels of socioeconomic development and caste on proeconomic attitudes and beliefs of individuals while controlling for the effect of socioeconomic status. Data were collected from 265 respondents in villages of Gujarat and Orissa belonging to three different groups, namely, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and general castes. Analysis of the data suggests that while controlling for the effect of socioeconomic status, indi viduals' proeconomic beliefs and attitudes were significantly affected by their re gional cultures but not by their caste. These results are discussed in the light of cultural differences in these two states; implicationsfor development planners are highlighted.