Religion and Growth

Sascha Becker, Jared Rubin and Ludger Woessmann

Working Papers from Chapman University, Economic Science Institute

Abstract: We use the elements of a macroeconomic production function—physical capital, human capital, labor, and technology—together with standard growth models to frame the role of religion in economic growth. Unifying a growing literature, we argue that religion can enhance or impinge upon economic growth through all four elements because it shapes individual preferences, societal norms, and institutions. Religion affects physical capital accumulation by influencing thrift and financial development. It affects human capital through both religious and secular education. It affects population and labor by influencing work effort, fertility, and the demographic transition. And it affects total factor productivity by constraining or unleashing technological change and through rituals, legal institutions, political economy, and conflict. Synthesizing a disjoint literature in this way opens many interesting directions for future research.

Keywords: religion; growth; Christianity; Judaism; Islam; preferences; norms; institutions; capital; saving; financial development; human capital; education; population; labor; demography; fertility; total factor productivity; technological change; rituals; political economy; conflict (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I25 N30 O15 O40 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/389/

Related works:
Journal Article: Religion and Growth (2024)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2024)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
Working Paper: Religion and Growth (2023)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:chu:wpaper:23-09

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