Cultural–moral values and their impact on economic development: a comparative analysis of theoretical and empirical studies (20th–21st centuries)

Abstract

The purpose of the research: The main purpose of this study is to systematize the impact of moral values on economic development through a multidimensional theoretical and empirical approach and to define the analytical boundaries of the concept of “moral values” within the context of economic behavior and institutional stability. The research aims to clarify how moral values manifest both in religious-ethical and socio-cultural dimensions, as well as to identify the indirect mechanisms through which these values influence economic activity and welfare indicators.

The methodology of the research: Methodologically, the study is based on a systematic literature review and comparative analysis. Through the literature review, theoretical and empirical studies examining the influence of moral and cultural factors on economic development were classified; through comparative analysis, differences in approach, conceptual similarities, and methodological boundaries among these studies were identified.

The originality and scientific novelty of the research: The novelty of the study lies in integrating moral and cultural values not merely within the religious and ethical context but within the framework of a “cultural-moral software” that connects them to the behavioral and institutional foundations of economic activity. This approach analytically demonstrates the formative role of moral values in economic development through mechanisms such as cultural codes, social capital, and institutional environment.