Traditional economics downplayed the role of culture and social norms in the progress of nations, and was dismissive of anybody who evinced an interest in these topics. A joke that did the rounds among mainstream economists was the one about an expert on culture and economics who said, ‘There are three kinds of economists, those who can do mathematics and those who cannot.’

The same is true in other disciplines. The anthropologist Clifford Geertz observed that ‘The term “culture” has by now acquired a certain aura of ill-repute in social anthropological circles.’

Fortunately, this is changing. A whole lot of serious economists and anthropologists are now interested in the role of culture in economic and social life. This is partly because of the rise in the study of evolutionary game theory, which has given us a handle for modelling and understanding culture; and partly for the practical reason that with globalization, different cultures—once far apart—are today rubbing shoulders. At times this gives rise to new bursts of creativity, at times to friction and occasionally to amusement.

Travelling by train and bus in the West and in India can give one fascinating glimpses of cultural differences. In the West, it is impolite to ask the stranger who happens to be sitting next to you personal questions. So you make inane conversation about the weather. In India it is in fact impolite not to ask personal questions: it shows you're being standoffish.