Read the following statement about how many hours people
work per week in the U.S. and the Netherlands. Then,
identify which of the following cultural traits is most likely
responsible for the difference in workweek length between
the U.S. and the Netherlands in 2020.
On average, people in the Netherlands worked for 29.4 hours
per week. On average, people in the U.S. worked for 34.6
hours per week. (1 point)
The Netherlands’ culture is influenced by its northern
location in the Northern Hemisphere, while the U.S. is
closer to the equator.
The U.S. culture is more strongly influenced by the
Christian religion than the Netherlands’ culture is.
The U.S. culture prioritizes flexible scheduling.
The U.S. culture prioritizes capitalism, while the
Netherlands’ culture prioritizes health and welfare
The U.S. culture prioritizes capitalism, while the Netherlands’ culture prioritizes health and welfare is most likely responsible for the difference in workweek length between the U.S. and the Netherlands in 2020.
The statement provided does not provide any information or context about the cultural traits of either the U.S. or the Netherlands that could directly explain the difference in workweek length. However, based solely on the given information, the most likely cultural trait responsible for the difference in workweek length between the U.S. and the Netherlands in 2020 would be:
The U.S. culture prioritizes capitalism, while the Netherlands' culture prioritizes health and welfare.
This is because the average workweek in the U.S. is longer than in the Netherlands, which could be attributed to the U.S. culture's emphasis on productivity and economic growth, driven by its capitalist system. On the other hand, the shorter workweek in the Netherlands might be a result of their cultural prioritization of health and welfare, suggesting a focus on work-life balance and overall well-being.
To identify which cultural trait is most likely responsible for the difference in workweek length between the U.S. and the Netherlands in 2020, we need to analyze the given options.
1. The Netherlands’ culture is influenced by its northern location in the Northern Hemisphere, while the U.S. is closer to the equator: The difference in workweek length is not likely to be influenced by the geographical location of the countries.
2. The U.S. culture is more strongly influenced by the Christian religion than the Netherlands' culture is: While religious influence can have an impact on cultural values and practices, it is not directly related to differences in workweek length between the countries.
3. The U.S. culture prioritizes flexible scheduling: This option could be a factor contributing to the difference. Flexible scheduling can affect the number of hours people work per week, but it doesn't directly explain the specific difference between the U.S. and the Netherlands.
4. The U.S. culture prioritizes capitalism, while the Netherlands' culture prioritizes health and welfare: This option seems to be the most likely explanation for the difference in workweek length. Capitalism can promote longer work hours as individuals strive for economic success. On the other hand, a culture that prioritizes health and welfare may emphasize a better work-life balance, leading to shorter workweeks.
Based on the provided information, it is most likely that the cultural trait of the U.S. prioritizing capitalism, while the Netherlands prioritizes health and welfare, is responsible for the difference in workweek length between the two countries in 2020.