Competitiveness 

Refers to societies competitiveness and the importance they place on achievement and success. On the other hand, less competitive countries would place greater importance on improving their quality of life. Most western countries share a similar level of competiveness where Asian countries fluctuate between highly competitive and not so much. 

Japan, for example, has an extraordinarily competitive culture where competition between groups or societies is encouraged. Countries such as China and India also have competitive cultures that place great emphasis on earning wealth and other materialistic values. This may be due the large populations that dwell in these countries, encouraging individuals to stand out. Similarly, countries such as America and Canada also strive to achieve exceptional results in areas such as work and sports. On the other hand, less competitive Eastern countries such as Thailand are not as worried about being the best, but are more focused on achieving a healthy balance between work and leisure. 


Reference; Arthur Hu; Introduction to basic Asian values. Available at: http://www.asianweek.com/2012/04/28/introduction-to-basic-asian-values/