Reader David Boxenhorn has pointed out to me that the fifth value promoted by commerce is different from the other four.
The list of values that promote commerce are: diversity, meritocracy, openness, love of technology and favoring the market.
David points out that the first four are propensities, often cultural. The Dutch, Danes and Japanese are very open and honest; Indians, Arabs and Latins are not. The same is true for meritocracy and love of technology. To some extent any overly hierarchical culture must make special provisions for meritocracy as the Japanese do with adulthood adoption. Highly qualified people are adopted or married into high ranking families. Diversity is less of a propensity and more of a begrudging acceptance. Nearly anyone can live comfortably in Amsterdam and nobody but a tribal Arab can be comfortable in Riyadh.
The exception is ‘favoring the market’ which is learned. Until 1960 most Americans preferred monopoly, like Bell Telephone, but with the advent of overseas goods getting around the high tariff barriers, Volksvagen and Cost Plus, Americans began to see the benefits of the competitive market.
The same has slowly been revealed to people in Europe and Israel with telephone long distance costs and airlines.
People are learning that the market can reduce prices and costs and promote innovation. Such learning is a key nail in the coffin of socialism which always promoted monopoly.
Learning to appreciate the market is a value that promotes commerce. It is a non-cultural propensity.