编号：E-2025-12-4
题目：The State Origin of Obedience
作者：Qing Liu, Zhengwen Liu, Jinfeng Luo
联系方式：Zhengwen Liu, zhengwenliu@pku.edu.cn
摘要：What are the historical origins of obedience to authority? We propose and test the hypothesis that prolonged exposure to centralized statehood has culturally ingrained a greater acceptance of hierarchical power. Analyzing global survey data, we demonstrate that individuals in countries with a longer and more centralized state history exhibit stronger norms of obedience, both in the family and the workplace. We establish causality through instrumental variable strategies, analysis of second-generation immigrants, and a natural experiment arising from the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Further evidence reveals that this historical legacy is embedded in cultural artifacts like folklore and language, yet its influence is mitigated by free access to information via the internet. Our findings identify the state as a key architect of a persistent cultural trait that shapes modern social and economic life.
