The evolution of secularization: cultural transmission, religion and fertility—theory, simulations and evidence

Ronen Bar-El, Teresa M. García-Muñoz (), Shoshana Neuman () and Yossef Tobol

Journal of Population Economics, 2013, vol. 26, issue 3, 1129-1174

Abstract: This study presents an evolutionary process of secularization assuming that cultural/social/religious norms (in particular the ‘religious taste for children’) are transmitted from one generation to the next via two venues: (i) direct socialization—across generations, by parents; and (ii) oblique socialization—within generations, by the cultural environment. The paper integrates a theoretical model, simulations and an empirical estimation, that lead to the following main findings: (i) direct religious socialization efforts of one generation have a negative effect on secularization within the next generation; (ii) oblique socialization by the community has a parabolic effect on secularization; and (iii) the two types of socialization are complementary in ‘producing’ religiosity in the next generation. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2013

Keywords: Secularization; Cultural transmission; Fertility; J11; J13; Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Evolution of Secularization: Cultural Transmission, Religion and Fertility Theory, Simulations and Evidence (2010)
Working Paper: The Evolution of Secularization: Cultural Transmission, Religion and Fertility. Theory, Simulations and Evidence (2010)
Working Paper: The Evolution of Secularization: Cultural Transmission, Religion and Fertility Theory, Simulations and Evidence (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:26:y:2013:i:3:p:1129-1174

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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-011-0401-9

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