Culture, human agency, and economic theory: Culture as a determinant of material welfare

In this paper cultural factors are incorporated into a behavioral model of economic growth and development and the circumstances under which culture can make a difference are articulated. In this context, the question of the long run survival, in a competitive environment, of firms and societies imbued with cultural precepts that are not conducive to growth and development, is addressed. This discussion attempts to redress a gap in economic theory, which does not well incorporate cultural factors as independent and causally substantive variables.