[Show full abstract] lessons from anthropology establish that the homo oeconomicus is far from eternal and universal.
Frequently used by sociologists and political scientists, the culture variable is found to be very largely absent from development analyses as produced by economists. It is admittedly true that the perspective of cultural homogenisation across the planet and the dominance of the rationality paradigm in economic science do not encourage this type of research. However, the works of Max Weber and ... [Show full abstract] lessons from anthropology establish that the homo oeconomicus is far from eternal and universal. But social science contradictions in terms of the economic effects of individualism and religious adherence have contributed to this embroilment of the cultural analysis of development. Fortunately, certain recent works are apparently drawing out new lines for research in this field.