1. Power Distance in 10 minutes
Geert Hofstede
August 2014

2. Origin of the term “power distance”
Used in the 1960s by Dutch experimental social psychologist Mauk Mulder for describing interpersonal power differences
In the 1970s, applied by Hofstede to differences between national societies

3. Power Distance as a societal culture dimension
Extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations expect and accept that power is distributed unequally
Transferred to children by parents and other elders

4. Large Power Distance Small Power Distance Inequality is normal
Superiors are superior beings
Power comes before good and evil
Children should learn respect as a key virtue
Centralization
Subordinates expect to be told
Small Power Distance
Inequality is wrong
Hierarchy is for practical purposes
Use of power should be legitimate
Children should learn to be independent
Decentralization
Subordinates expect to be consulted

5. How are societal power distances measured?
There is no absolute standard for power distance
“All societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others”
What we can measure is differences between national societies
The position of societies relative to each other is expressed in a Power Distance Index score (PDI)
PDI values have been plotted on a scale from 0 to 100; scores close to 0 stand for a smaller, scores close to 100 for a larger power distance

6. Some Power Distance Index (PDI) scores, out of 76
High
93 Russia
81 Mexico
80 China
80 Arab countries
77 India
68 France
54 Japan
Low
50 Italy
40 U.S.A.
38 Netherlands
36 Australia
35 Germany
35 Britain
18 Denmark

7. Some examples of what these PDI scores correlate with
High PDI societies
More income inequality
Smaller middle class
Dictatorships or oligarchies
Violence in national politics
Political systems changed by revolution
Business executives older
Innovations only when supported by hierarchy
Low PDI societies
Less income inequality
Larger middle class
Separation of powers
Peaceful conflict resolution
Political systems changed by evolution
Business executives younger
Spontaneous innovations by mavericks or rebels

8. Don’t the scores change over time ?
The scores are based on values transferred from parents to children; these values rarely change after adulthood
Research bij Sjoerd Beugelsdijk comparing answers to the same questions by two successive generations 30 years apart shows a worldwide shift towards slightly smaller power distances
However, the position of countries relative to each other remained the same; and this is what the scores are based on
Country differences expressed in the scores are often rooted in centuries of history
So, the scores can be assumed to be stable over time