You may have heard someone say, “he was boogieing it up” referring to being something other than their actual selves. Is that good or bad? Emulating aristocratic possessions is not good, of course, but the term is derived from Bourgeois values – behavior guided by middle class values. Research by behavioral economist Dr. Diedre McClosky, whom we reference extensively in our recent book, documents that values achieving prosperity are bourgeois. We do not define prosperity in our book because we want every reader to develop their personal definition of prosperity. We also want each reader to draw their own conclusions about values that lead to their own prosperity, but law professors Amy Wax and Larry Alexander generated considerable controversy when they published the following summary of values creating prosperity.
“Get married before you have children and strive to stay married for their sake. Get the education you need for gainful employment, work hard and avoid idleness. Go the extra mile for your employer or client. Be a patriot, civic-minded and charitable. Avoid coarse language in public. Be respectful of authority. Eschew substance abuse and crime.” (WSJ)
What do you think, did these values make America great? Do they lead to prosperity of individuals, organizations, and nations? To analyze your answer, you might find helpful our recent book encouraging people to “drop the dogma and deep into the data,” Objective Prosperity: How Behavioral Economics Could Improve Outcomes for You, Your Business, and Your Nation, by Roger Blackwell and Roger Bailey. www.rogerblackwellbusiness.com
