Forbidden Fruits: The Political Economy of Science, Religion, and Growth

Roland Roland Bénabou, Davide Ticchi () and Andrea Vindigni
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Roland Roland Bénabou: Princeton University
Andrea Vindigni: University of Genova

Working Papers from Princeton University. Economics Department.

Abstract: We study the coevolution of religion, science and politics. We first uncover, in international and U.S. data, a robust negative relationship between religiosity and patents per capita. The model then combines: (i) scientific discoveries that raise productivity but sometimes erode religious beliefs; (ii) a government that allows innovations to diffuse, or blocks them; (iii) religious institutions that can invest in doctrinal reform. Three long-term outcomes emerge. The Western-European Secularization regime has declining religiosity, unimpeded science, and high taxes and transfers. The Theocratic regime involves knowledge stagnation, unquestioned dogma, and high religious-public-goods spending. The American regime combines scientific progress and stable religiosity through doctrinal adaptations, with low taxes and some fiscal-legal advantages for religious activities. Rising income inequality can, however, empower a Religious-Right alliance that starts blocking belief-eroding ideas.

Keywords: science; discovery; innovation; progress; knowledge; religion; secularization; tolerance; religious right; theocracy; politics; populism; denialism; inequality; redistribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E02 H11 H41 O3 O43 P16 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ban, nep-gro, nep-his, nep-mac, nep-pbe and nep-pol
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Forbidden Fruits: The Political Economy of Science, Religion, and Growth (2022)
Working Paper: Forbidden Fruits: The Political Economy of Science, Religion, and Growth (2015)
Working Paper: Forbidden Fruits: The Political Economy of Science, Religion, and Growth (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pri:econom:2020-24

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