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Introduction

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Abstract

When looking at the economic history of the world, it becomes apparent that development economic thinking has evolved with only a handful of examples regarding the emergence of developmental transformations (i.e., mainly economies in Southeast Asia). Therefore, it is not surprising that no significant theoretical construction has emerged to accurately interpret economic growth, and as a consequence, policies regarding universal growth and development economics have not been proposed. In such an environment, there is a constant search for solutions to various development issues and new formations. The present book refers to the role of cultural background in the process of growth, development and the application of economic policy. Regarding the logic behind the analysis of this book, it becomes clear that all chapters intend to provide some answers to the questions surrounding the relationship between cultural background and growth and to explore the impact of the relationship on economic policy in relation to growth and development.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Throughout this book, the concepts of “culture” and “cultural background” are used interchangeably. However, the writer prefers the latter, given that it is generally believed that the former is much broader (i.e., it encompasses amongst other things elements of education and material facts regarding cultural life), whereas the focus of this book is on behaviors, habits and values.

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Petrakis, P.E. (2014). Introduction. In: Culture, Growth and Economic Policy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41440-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41440-4_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-41439-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-41440-4

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