KATHERINE~chapter 7 response~

      By demonstrating the Confucius values in Chinese culture, chapter 7 discusses a new dimension in culture differences, which is “short- term orientation vs. long-term orientation” (p.243). As the term “long-term orientation” is formerly established through Chinese Value Survey, it only applies to 23 Asian countries. The author then figures out the opposite of the long-term orientation societies, showing situations in the more western appealed short-term orientation societies. These two kinds of societies differ in areas regarding to general norms, family, business, politics and so on.

       I am especially interested in people’s views towards expenditure and their own countries. According to the chapter people living in short-term orientation societies are more willing to spend money ahead of time while long-term orientation societies tend to favor the virtue of “thrift”. Citizens in US are typical people believing in short-term orientation, and sometimes they are criticized of living a too “luxury” life. Take the US financial crisis in 2008 as an example, the core source was the imbalance of the money people spent and the actual amount they had. There were even voices then suggested US to learn from China, which is the most long-term orientation society according to the chapter. As for ideas of motherlands, nationals in short-term orientation countries are proud of their countries but on the contrary long-term orientation states always feel the need of learning from other countries. In fact, this may always be true. China tended to learn from others in 1970s but nowadays she is strong enough to build her unique development strategies.