long-versus short-term orientation

n. A continuum of the time frame for thinking and planning, which describes a culture,s time horizon, or the relative importance of the future versus the past and present. Long-term-oriented societies value thrift, status hierarchy, shame, and perseverance more highly. In short-term-oriented cultures, respect for tradition, protecting one's face, personal steadiness and stability, and reciprocation of gifts and favors are valued more. East Asian nations such as China and Japan tend to score toward the long-term end and developing countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria toward the short-term orientation. People in the United States and Western European nations tend to be low but not among the lowest. Within the United States different subcultures tend to score differently, with urban ghetto dwellers and some rural poor groups scoring toward the short-term end of the dimension and upper-middle-class individuals toward the long-term end of the dimension.