What is the importance of culture on national economic development?

Started Nov. 30, 2022

Abstract or project description

Scholars have identified many factors as greatly influential in explaining national development outcomes: the natural resource endowment of a country, the effect of colonial institutions, geography, human capital, etc. However, one understudied factor is the impact of culture on development. This paper will explore this question by analyzing the effect of Chinese culture on the development of Singapore. It will discuss its importance in relation to other established factors in development studies and will draw from an explanation of the history of Singapore as well as a synthesis of prior studies on development in East Asia.