More Similar or Different? New Measure Shows Value Consensus Varies Greatly Across Nations

Value consensus varies substantially across countries and regions.

This paper introduces a novel statistical model using the World Values Survey data to measure cultural heterogeneity at country level. The approach models each nation as a mixture of globally shared subcultures, offering more precise indicators than previous methods.

Key Findings:

• Value consensus differs significantly between countries and regions
• Countries exhibit varying levels of value diversity among citizens
• These measures provide clearer insights into cultural patterns worldwide

Why It Matters:

This new measurement framework helps political scientists better understand how different societies prioritize values, affecting analyses of polarization, social cohesion, and policy preferences across diverse political systems.