Religion and Economic Development: Past, Present, and Future

Sascha Becker, Amma Panin, Steven Pfaff and Jared Rubin
Additional contact information
Amma Panin: UC Louvain
Steven Pfaff: CWES

The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) from University of Warwick, Department of Economics

Abstract: This chapter examines the role of religion in economic development, both historically and today. Religion's influence varies globally, with high religiosity in countries like Pakistan and low rates in China. Despite declines in some Western countries, religion remains influential worldwide, with projected growth in Muslim populations due to higher fertility rates. Religion continues to shape societal norms and institutions, such as education and politics, even after its direct influence fades. The chapter explores how religious institutions and norms have impacted economic outcomes, focusing on both persistence and decline. It also examines cultural transmission, institutional entrenchment, networks, and religious competition as mechanisms sustaining religion's influence. We explore the relationship between religion and secularization, showing that economic development does not always reduce religiosity. Lastly, the chapter highlights gaps in the literature and suggests future research areas on the evolving role of religion in economic development

Keywords: Religion; Economic Development; Religiosity; Cultural Transmission; Secularization; Historical Persistence; Religious Competition; Networks; Social Norms JEL Codes: D85; I25; J10; N30; O33; O43; P48; Z10; Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/w ... erp_1550-_becker.pdf

Related works:
Working Paper: Religion and Economic Development: Past, Present, and Future (2025)
Working Paper: Religion and Economic Development: Past, Present, and Future (2025)
Working Paper: Religion and Economic Development: Past, Present, and Future (2025)
Working Paper: Religion and Economic Development: Past, Present, and Future (2025)
Working Paper: Religion and Economic Development: Past, Present, and Future (2025)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wrk:warwec:1550

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) from University of Warwick, Department of Economics Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Margaret Nash ().