Cultured Construction: Global Evidence of the Impact of National Values on Sanitation Infrastructure Choice

Abstract

Case study research often claims culturevariously definedimpacts infrastructure development. I test this claim using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and newly available data representing change in national coverage of sewer connections, sewerage treatment, and onsite sanitation between 1990 and 2010 for 21 developing nations. The results show that the cultural dimensions of uncertainty avoidance, masculinityfemininity, and individualism-collectivism have statistically significant relationships to sanitation technology choice. These data prove the global impact of culture on infrastructure choice, and reemphasize that local cultural preferences must be considered when constructing sanitation infrastructure.