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)
a. The U.S. culture prioritizes flexible scheduling.
b. The Netherlands’ culture is influenced by its northern location in the Northern Hemisphere, while the U.S. is closer to the equator.
c. The U.S. culture is more strongly influenced by the Christian religion than the Netherlands’ culture is.
d. The US culture prioritizes capitalism while the Netherlands culture prioritizes health and weathfare
d. The US culture prioritizes capitalism while the Netherlands culture prioritizes health and welfare.
Based on the provided information, the most likely cultural trait responsible for the difference in workweek length between the U.S. and the Netherlands in 2020 is:
d. The US culture prioritizes capitalism while the Netherlands culture prioritizes health and welfare.
To determine 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 information and evaluate the cultural aspects of both countries.
Based on the provided statement, we know that people in the U.S. worked for an average of 34.6 hours per week, while people in the Netherlands worked for an average of 29.4 hours per week. Now let's examine the options:
a. The U.S. culture prioritizes flexible scheduling:
The statement does not mention anything about flexible scheduling as a reason for the difference in workweek length between the U.S. and the Netherlands. Therefore, this option is unlikely to be the primary cultural trait responsible for the difference.
b. The Netherlands’ culture is influenced by its northern location in the Northern Hemisphere, while the U.S. is closer to the equator:
Geographical location is not a significant factor in determining workweek length. This option does not directly relate to cultural traits, so it is unlikely to be the primary cultural trait responsible for the difference.
c. The U.S. culture is more strongly influenced by the Christian religion than the Netherlands’ culture is:
Religious influence usually plays a role in shaping cultural norms, but the statement does not provide any information suggesting that religious factors are responsible for the difference in workweek length. Hence, this option is unlikely to be the primary cultural trait responsible for the difference.
d. The U.S. culture prioritizes capitalism while the Netherlands culture prioritizes health and welfare:
This option seems to align more with the provided information. The U.S. is known for its emphasis on capitalism and a strong work ethic, which could contribute to longer workweek hours. On the other hand, the Netherlands is often associated with a focus on work-life balance and social welfare policies, which could explain their shorter workweek hours.
Therefore, option d, "The US 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.