Randomizing religion: the impact of Protestant evangelism on economic outcomes

Gharad Bryan, James Choi and Dean Karlan

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: We study the causal impact of religiosity through a randomized evaluation of an evangelical Protestant Christian values and theology education program delivered to thousands of ultrapoor Filipino households. Six months after the program ended, treated households have higher religiosity and income; no statistically significant differences in total labor supply, consumption, food security, or life satisfaction; and lower perceived relative economic status. Exploratory analysis suggests that the income treatment effect may operate through increasing grit. Thirty months after the program ended, significant differences in the intensity of religiosity disappear, but those in the treatment group are less likely to be Catholic and more likely to be Protestant, and there is some mixed evidence that their consumption and perceived relative economic status are higher.

Keywords: P01AG005842 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 I30 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 88 pages
Date: 2021-02-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Published in Quarterly Journal of Economics, 1, February, 2021, 136(1), pp. 293 - 380. ISSN: 0033-5533

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http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/105091/ Open access version. (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Randomizing Religion: the Impact of Protestant Evangelism on Economic Outcomes* (2021)
Working Paper: Randomizing Religion: The Impact of Protestant Evangelism on Economic Outcomes (2018)
Working Paper: Randomizing Religion: The Impact of Protestant Evangelism on Economic Outcomes (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ehl:lserod:105091

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