TY - JOUR

T1 - The nature and utility of cultural tightness–looseness

T2 - evidence for reconsideration

AU - Minkov, Michael

AU - Akaliyski, Plamen

AU - Kaasa, Anneli

AU - Welzel, Christian

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Academy of International Business 2025.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Numerous studies focus on the tightness–looseness (TL) dimension of national culture, reporting important implications for business and management. However, the main TL measure has generated a number of theoretical and empirical concerns. It likely reflects unfounded national auto-stereotypes, the conceptual boundary between TL and individualism–collectivism (IC) is blurred, respondents in different societies have different TL-related concepts, and TL yields mostly low and often insignificant correlations with its presumed correlates. Using the latest TL data from Eriksson, Gelfand, and associates, we find that some TL items are uncorrelated with aggregates of corresponding self-reports. TL is not predicted by its main presumed antecedents, and has marginal or no effects on its presumed main consequences, including all metanorms (reported frequencies of reactions to inappropriate behavior). Our results challenge the validity of measures of culture based on respondents’ generalized impressions of their compatriots. We suggest a revision of TL theory in which much of the TL concept can be subsumed under IC. We highlight the fact that a society can be tight in one domain and loose in another, which depends largely on its IC position.

AB - Numerous studies focus on the tightness–looseness (TL) dimension of national culture, reporting important implications for business and management. However, the main TL measure has generated a number of theoretical and empirical concerns. It likely reflects unfounded national auto-stereotypes, the conceptual boundary between TL and individualism–collectivism (IC) is blurred, respondents in different societies have different TL-related concepts, and TL yields mostly low and often insignificant correlations with its presumed correlates. Using the latest TL data from Eriksson, Gelfand, and associates, we find that some TL items are uncorrelated with aggregates of corresponding self-reports. TL is not predicted by its main presumed antecedents, and has marginal or no effects on its presumed main consequences, including all metanorms (reported frequencies of reactions to inappropriate behavior). Our results challenge the validity of measures of culture based on respondents’ generalized impressions of their compatriots. We suggest a revision of TL theory in which much of the TL concept can be subsumed under IC. We highlight the fact that a society can be tight in one domain and loose in another, which depends largely on its IC position.

KW - Cultural dimensions

KW - Individualism collectivism

KW - Norms

KW - Tightness–looseness

KW - Politics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105016149906&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1057/s41267-025-00803-0

DO - 10.1057/s41267-025-00803-0

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:105016149906

JO - Journal of International Business Studies

JF - Journal of International Business Studies

SN - 0047-2506

ER -