Cultural Tightness-Looseness: How Societies Enforce Rules - Thursday's Edition

How culture originated

Walk into a meeting five minutes late in Munich. The room notices. Someone glances at the clock. Your colleague mentions it afterward. Do it twice and people question your professionalism. Do it repeatedly and you damage your career.

Walk into a meeting five minutes late in São Paulo. No one looks up. Most arrived after you. The meeting starts when enoug…