Religious practice and student performance: Evidence from Ramadan fasting

Erik Hornung, Guido Schwerdt and Maurizio Strazzeri

No 16620, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We investigate how the intensity of Ramadan affects educational outcomes by exploiting spatio-temporal variation in annual fasting hours. Longer fasting hours are related to increases in student performance in a panel of TIMMS test scores (1995-2019) across Muslim countries but not other countries. Results are confirmed in a panel of PISA test scores (2003-2018) allowing within country-wave comparisons of Muslim to non-Muslim students across Europe. We provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis that a demanding Ramadan during adolescence affects educational performance by facilitating formation of social capital and social identity via increased religious participation and shared experiences among students.

Keywords: Education; Religion; Religious participation; Ramadan; Social identity; Social capital; Pisa; Timms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 J24 O15 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-10
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Related works:
Journal Article: Religious practice and student performance: Evidence from Ramadan fasting (2023)
Working Paper: Religious Practice and Student Performance: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting (2021)
Working Paper: Religious Practice and Student Performance: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting (2021)
Working Paper: Religious practice and student performance: Evidence from Ramadan fasting (2021)
Working Paper: Religious Practice and Student Performance: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting (2021)
Working Paper: Religious practice and student performance: Evidence from Ramadan fasting (2021)
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