Values, Beliefs and Development

Jeffry Jacob () and Thomas Osang ()
Additional contact information
Jeffry Jacob: St. John’s University

No 705, Departmental Working Papers from Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper investigates the consequences of religion for economic development. In particular, we examine whether religious attitudes, beliefs, participation and preference contribute to differences in per capita income across countries. Using a large scale international survey on values and religious behavior, we estimate both cross-section and panel data models, controlling for the “deep determinants” of development: Institutions, geography and trade. Our results indicate that religion plays an important role in economic development, but mostly in a non-linear manner. Countries with moderate religious values and behavior tend to have higher income levels than countries on both ends of the religious spectrum.

Keywords: Development; Economics of Religion; Institutions; Openness; Geography (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F1 H1 N1 O1 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 56 pages
Date: 2007-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-pbe and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:smu:ecowpa:705

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