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The Love of Money, Satisfaction, and the Protestant Work Ethic: Money Profiles Among Univesity Professors in the U.S.A. and Spain

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Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that university professors (lecturers) (in the U.S. and Spain) with different money profiles (based on Factors Success, Budget, Motivator, Equity, and Evil of the Love of Money Scale) will differ in work-related attitudes and satisfaction. Results suggested that Achieving Money Worshipers (with high scores on Factors Success, Motivator, Equity, and Budget) had high income, Work Ethic, and high satisfaction with pay level, pay administration, and internal equity comparison but low satisfaction with external equity comparison. Careless Money Admirers (high Success but low Budget) had low intrinsic job satisfaction and low satisfaction with pay level and life. Apathetic Money Managers (low Evil and low Motivator) had the highest intrinsic job satisfaction and life satisfaction. Money Repellent Individuals (high Evil and low Success) had low income, work experience, Work Ethic, and low satisfaction with pay administration. Money does not provide the same motivation for people in all four money profiles. Results are discussed in light of the effectiveness of using money to reward people with different money profiles, intrinsic motivation, and unethical behavior.

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  1. Departamento de Direccion de Empresas, Edificio Departamental Oriental, 1-c5, Campus de los Naranjos, Avda de los Naranjos s/n, University of Valencia, Valencia, 46022, Spain

    Roberto Luna-Arocas

  2. Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, U.S.A.

    Roberto Luna-Arocas

  3. Department of Management and Marketing, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University, Box 516, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, U.S.A.

    Thomas Li-Ping Tang

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Luna-Arocas, R., Tang, T.LP. The Love of Money, Satisfaction, and the Protestant Work Ethic: Money Profiles Among Univesity Professors in the U.S.A. and Spain. Journal of Business Ethics 50, 329–354 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000025081.51622.2f

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