What is the Protestant work ethic?

The Protestant work ethic refers to a concept described by the sociologist Max Weber, which suggests that Protestant values and beliefs have significantly influenced the development of capitalism, particularly through a strong emphasis on hard work, thrift, and efficiency. This ethic is often associated with self-discipline, an emphasis on individual effort, and the belief that work has intrinsic moral value, particularly as a demonstration of one's faith and chosenness by God.

For instance, Marc Andreessen discusses how the Protestant work ethic, particularly in its Calvinist form, encourages hard work and deferral of gratification, seeing labor and discipline as part of one's divine duty. The elect, according to Calvinist belief, demonstrate their salvation through industriousness and accumulation of wealth, which were seen as signs of God's favor 1.

Furthermore, in a different discussion, Dr. Joe Henrich elaborates on how Protestantism is often associated with a greater willingness among its adherents to defer gratification compared to other groups, which contributes to behaviors like saving and investing, providing economic advantages over time 2.

The impact of this ethic continues to influence contemporary cultures, predominantly in historically Protestant regions, promoting a certain enthusiasm towards industry and self-improvement. This contribution to the capitalist spirit, as Weber posited, remains a topic of sociological and economic discussion today.