The long-run effects of religious persecution: Evidence from the Spanish Inquisition

Mauricio Drelichman, Jordi Vidal-Robert and Hans-Joachim Voth

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021, vol. 118, issue 33, e2022881118

Abstract: Religious persecution is common in many countries around the globe. There is little evidence on its long-term effects. We collect data from all across Spain, using information from more than 67,000 trials held by the Spanish Inquisition between 1480 and 1820. This comprehensive database allows us to demonstrate that municipalities of Spain with a history of a stronger inquisitorial presence show lower economic performance, educational attainment, and trust today. The effects persist after controlling for historical indicators of religiosity and wealth, ruling out potential selection bias.

Keywords: religion; persistence; Spain; persecution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Working Paper: The Long Run Effects of Religious Persecution: Evidence from the Spanish Inquisition (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nas:journl:v:118:y:2021:p:e2022881118

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