Postmaterialism index

The data project includes the variables, the questions and the algorithms (in SPSS) required for the derivation of the full postmaterialism index. The postmaterialism index was originally developed by Ronald Inglehart, in an attempt to capture the altering individual value priorities of citizens in post-industrial societies. These new, post-materialist values refer to the need for political freedom and participation, self-actualization, personal relationships, creativity, and care for the environment. In modern societies, a “silent revolution” is taking place, in which the dominance of materialist values is being replaced by post-materialist values. Inglehart proposes to measure whether people tend to be more materialistic or postmateralistic, by asking people about the priorities in what their country/government should do in the future and build, from the answers, an index. The original index was based on 4 items, while a 12-item-index is now employed.