On Sun, May 31, 2009 at 11:50 AM, Deepak Jois <[email protected]> wrote: > In the end, he concluded that usual economic explanations (like lack > of institutions etc.) were not sufficient to explain this difference, > and hinted that cultural and genetic factors were involved which > affected "labor quality", which were beyond the domain of what > economists study.
The cultural factors, I can understand. One example of it that I noticed in India, both in the home and the work place, is the habit of just "dropping by" for socializing and the low regard for making and keeping appointments. On a typical day my scheduled work used to see 5-10 unscheduled and unanticipatable (at least by me) interruptions. In a country where the transport infrastructure is shoddy and one cannot estimate how long a trip within or outside a city is going to take, not being on time can become normal. The genetic factors, I do not agree with. I have seen the same Indian (or Pakistani or Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan) being more productive with a little acculturation in the US. So obviously it is not some sort of genetic sloth. Thaths -- "You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel." -- Homer J. Simpson
