Do family ties and structure matter for ethical and moral values?

Abstract

PurposeThis paper seeks to determine whether family ties and structure correlate with the ethical and moral values that are important underpinnings of economic activities.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis uses data from the World Values Survey (WVS). Given the multilevel nature of the data in a cross-country setting, the paper utilizes a multilevel linear mixed-effects model with maximum likelihood estimation.FindingsFamilies with strong ties and those with traditional family structures are less tolerant of unethical conduct and have more restrictive moral values than households where ties are weak and the household is not married. There also appears to be a bi-causal relationship in the data.Originality/valueThis paper considers a broad array of values in a cross-country setting and utilizes a multilevel modeling approach that has not been done in studies linking both family ties and structure.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2021-0730.