Values of China: Toward a Cultural Map 

24 Pages Posted: 11 Feb 2025 Last revised: 15 Feb 2025

See all articles by Melanie Meng Xue

Melanie Meng Xue

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE)

Date Written: December 31, 2024

Abstract

This paper constructs a cultural map of China by analyzing nearly 20,000 folktales collected in the 1980s, shedding light on how cultural traits shape economic outcomes. Using BERT-based embeddings and large language model (LLM) thematic classification, the study quantifies themes—such as trust, honesty, and effort—embedded in these oral traditions. It then links these historical narratives to contemporary attitudes and beliefs, as measured by the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), thus connecting longstanding cultural values to modern social and economic behaviors. The findings show that values like honesty and effort are positively associated with GDP per capita, while clan-based narratives correlate negatively. These results highlight the enduring impact of cultural traits on economic performance in present-day China. Moreover, the paper’s approach offers a replicable framework for analyzing how cultural narratives influence development, with implications for China and other regions possessing rich historical narratives.

Keywords: Culture, History, Growth, China

Suggested Citation

Xue, Melanie Meng, Values of China: Toward a Cultural Map  (December 31, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5078516 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5078516

Melanie Meng Xue (Contact Author)

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) ( email )

Houghton Street
London, WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.melaniexue.net/

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