This research argues that variations in the interplay between cultural assimilation and cultural diffusion have played a significant role in giving rise to differential patterns of economic development across the globe. Societies that were geographically less vulnerable to cultural diffusion,...

The "culture" debate in economics and economic history has been long-lasting. This volume incorporates contributions of scholars from economics, management studies and international relations, as well as economic and social historians' attempts to evaluate the role and impact of cultural factors...

Attempts to accelerate economic growth in less developed areas have met with little success, partly because economic theory deals with short-run analysis and because the effects of culture cannot be quantified. The study seeks to understand the importance of cultural factors in explaining the...