Materialistic Values in Hong Kong and Guangzhou

A Comparative Analysis of Two Chinese Societies

Bibliographic Data

ID6991290
AuthorsCatherine C H Chiu Kwok-Fai Ting (corresponding author)
Year2000
Volume20
Issue1
Pages15-40
Publication date2000-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Spectrum (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0273-2173 • E-ISSN: 1521-0707
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/027321700280017
OpenAlexW2074483047
LanguageEN
Citations received4

This article integrates two competing perspectives on value orientation. Inglehart's postmaterialism thesis stresses the permanent effects of childhood experience in which economic deprivation leads to materialism in adult life. The human development perspective, in contrast, emphasizes the evolution of a person's value system as life-cycle development unfolds new circumstances and possibilities. We adopt a developmental framework to test claims from these two perspectives. On the basis of micro-level data, we compare the materialistic values of two historically and culturally different Chinese societies, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Findings support Inglehart's assertions that childhood experience has lasting effects and that rapid social changes create birth cohort differences in materialistic concerns. But life-cycle developments, such as education, marriage, and current social status, are equally important in influencing a person's value orientation. Both perspectives see only part of the picture, and an integrated approach is needed to better understand how people construct and maintain their value system

Economics · Epistemology · Materialism · Positive economics · Social science · Social value orientations · Sociology · World Values Survey · Cultural Differences and Values · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Psychology