The Self-Made Effect. What Is Hide behind Education Effect on Work Ethic

Numerous studies have explored the relationship between work ethic and education offering different explanations. Some suggest that the experience of economic insecurity in youth leaves lasting effects on values. Others argue that education only plays a mediating role: less-educated working-class parents prepare their children for an inflexible work environment, while more-educated middle- and upper-class parents foster creativity over conformity. Finally, some claim that a strong work ethic emerges when individuals see opportunities for upward mobility, which may explain why the work ethic is so high during periods of economic transition. The 5th wave of EVS offer variables that may shed light on this, such as parental education levels and experiences of economic hardship during adolescence (age 14). We therefore test three possible sources of explanation according to international literature: economic insecurity effect during youth (classic modernization theory), education levels of parents (intergenerational transmission of value), upward social mobility (perceived opportunities). Using multilevel modeling, we examine the effects of these variables in different countries, and try to identify what might reduce education estimates. The results show that parents’ education is a stronger predictor of work ethic than respondent’s education, highlighting family influence on socialization. In addition, challenging early life experiences and the constructed variable of upward mobility both have significant positive effects. People from lower socio-economic status display a stronger work ethic, especially when they experience upward mobility.