Christian Welzel, 61, is a professor of political culture research at Leuphana University in Lüneburg and heads the Center for Democracy Research there. He is also research director of the long-term study World Values ​​Survey, which has been regularly measuring the values ​​and attitudes of populations in many countries around the world since 1981.

THE TIME: Mr. Welzel, do we have to thank drizzle and sleet showers for allowing us to live in a rich country?

Christian Welzel: In fact: yes! And our relatively cool climate.