Effects of religiosity on social behaviour: Experimental evidence from a representative sample of Spaniards

Shoshana Neuman, Brañas-Garza, Pablo and Antonio Espín
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Pablo Brañas-Garza

No 9709, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This study explores the effect of several personal religion-related variables on social behaviour, using three paradigmatic economic games: the dictator (DG), ultimatum (UG), and trust (TG) games. A large carefully designed sample of a Spanish urban adult population (N=766) is employed. From participants? decisions in these games we obtain measures of altruism, bargaining behaviour and sense of fairness/equality, trust, and positive reciprocity. Three dimensions of religiosity are examined: (i) religious denomination; (ii) the intensity of religiosity, measured by active participation at church services; and (iii) converting out into a different denomination than the one raised in. The major results are: (i) individuals with ?no religion? made decisions closer to rational selfish behaviour in the DG and the UG compared to those who affiliate with a ?standard? religious denomination; (ii) among Catholics, intensity of religiosity is the key variable that affects social behaviour insofar as religiously-active individuals are generally more pro-social than non-active ones; and (iii) the religion raised in seems to have no effect on pro-sociality, beyond the effect of the current measures of religiosity. Importantly, behaviour in the TG is not predicted by any of the religion-related variables we analyse. Given the accelerating share of ?no religion? individuals (in Europe and elsewhere) and the large influx of immigrants ? who tend to be more religiously active compared to the native populations ? our findings have significant implications for the future pro-sociality patterns in Europe.

Keywords: Church attendance; Economic experiments; Pro-social behaviour; Religion; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C7 C9 Z12 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Effects of Religiosity on Social Behaviour: Experimental Evidence From a Representative Sample of Spaniards (2013)
Working Paper: Effects of Religiosity on Social Behaviour: Experimental Evidence from a Representative Sample of Spaniards (2013)
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