Motivation whirlpool and poverty cycle

During the research, the CCE often got the following explanation of the bad work ethics: "Work is not rewarded by the system. If I do my best, I will not be rewarded. I will feel stupid to work more and to gain as much as the others. What is more, I will feel rancor because the premiums would be paid, but not to the best workers. And the worst thing is that my colleagues will think ill of me for my misconduct for wanting to work, and maybe even my employer." It is a strong and relevant argument, founded on personal experience. The argumentation is however not complete, because it omits the fact that it is us who make the system. Argument “the system does not function, therefore I do not work” is only the first part of a reciprocal relation. The second is “I do not work, therefore the system does not function”. Thus the vicious circle of weakening of society is closed. It is probable that this vicious circle played an important part in different failures of the Serbian society. In any event, the employee motivation influences the productivity of the economy, while this productivity influences the incomes and the living standards. Thus the uncertain value of work causes poverty. Moreover, the modest incomes are in their turn used as the principal argument for the undervaluation of work, closing an another cycle, that of poverty.