Sociodemographic Differences Within Countries Produce Variable Cultural Values

Abstract

Values vary more within countries than between countries because cultural values are adapted to sociodemographic conditions. The globalization of capitalism and commerce has increased economic differences between the haves and the have-nots within countries around the world; at the same time, it has decreased differences between countries, as virtually all countries have urbanized, developed communications technologies such as the Internet, and developed their systems of comprehensive formal education. Hence, according to this theoretical framework, one would actually expect increased within-country differences in values and decreased between-country differences in values, relative to earlier periods of history.