Lithuanian attributes Estonia's success to religion

[Äike]

Lithuanian attributes Estonia's success to religion

Lithuaniatribune.com writes with reference to weekly Veidas that the wealth gap between Estonia and the rest of the Baltic states was widening because of religion.

Explaining why Estonians have been less willing to emigrate than their southern neighbours, why they have higher monthly wages and the old age pensions (more than 20 percent higher than in Lithuania) and why Estonia’s GDP is higher than Lithuania’s by 12 percent, Lithuaian sociologist Mindaugas Degutis says religion is the major factor influencing this trend.

He said: “Estonians are Protestants and sociologist Max Weber already a hundred years ago noticed a link between Protestantism and economic development because the followers of this religion believe that they will be redeemed if they are good at work. This could have contributed to the factors that have led to the leadership of the Estonians – a faster and more successful implementation of reforms, the discipline which is characterises the Nordic countries, a political system more focused on pragmatic functioning instead of populist attitudes.”

To sum it up, we are visibly richer then Lithuanians, because we are Nordic and they aren't.

[EWtt]

He said: “Estonians are Protestants and sociologist Max Weber already a hundred years ago noticed a link between Protestantism and economic development because the followers of this religion believe that they will be redeemed if they are good at work.

It's called Protestant work ethic... Protestantism praised hard work, and this indeed is likely behind our "cult of work". However, most Latvians also have a Lutheran background while Latvia lags behind Catholic Lithuania, so there must be some additional cultural/historical considerations and differences in general mentality (which more closely tie Estonia with the Nordic region) that ought to be taken into account.

[Hweinlant]

Isnt Latvia around 50% Russian/Soviet ?

[EWtt]

Isnt Latvia around 50% Russian/Soviet ?

In 2009 Latvia was about 60% Latvian while Estonia was about 70% Estonian. Surely this is a great factor, along with Latvia having suffered more during the occupation.

[Hweinlant]

I was at Riga 2007 and it seemed like majority Russian/Soviet city. Guys at the restaurants of the old town had square heads, black leather jackets, black hair and mercedes parked outside.