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Communism as the unhappy coming

Author

Listed:
  • Djankov,Simeon
  • Nikolova,Elena
Abstract
This paper shows that Eastern Orthodox believers are less happy compared with Catholics and Protestants using data covering more than 100 countries around the world. Consistent with the happiness results, the paper also finds that relative to Catholics, Protestants, and non-believers, those of Eastern Orthodox religion have less social capital and prefer old ideas and safe jobs. In addition, Orthodoxy is associated with left-leaning political preferences and stronger support for government involvement in the economy. Compared with non-believers and Orthodox adherents, Catholics and Protestants are less likely to agree that government ownership is a good thing, and Protestants are less likely to agree that getting rich can only happen at the expense of others. These differences in life satisfaction and other attitudes and values persisted despite the fact that communist elites sought to eradicate church-going in Eastern Europe, since communists maintained many aspects of Orthodox theology which were useful for the advancement of the communist doctrine. The findings are consistent with Berdyaev's hypothesis that communism is a successor of Orthodoxy.

Suggested Citation

  • Djankov,Simeon & Nikolova,Elena, 2018. "Communism as the unhappy coming," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8399, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:8399
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Guriev, Sergei & Melnikov, Nikita, 2018. "Happiness convergence in transition countries," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 683-707.
    4. Gaganis, Chrysovalantis & Hasan, Iftekhar & Pasiouras, Fotios, 2020. "National culture and housing credit," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 19-41.
    5. Adserà, Alicia & Dalla Pozza, Francesca & Guriev, Sergei & Kleine-Rueschkamp, Lukas & Nikolova, Elena, 2019. "Transition, height and well-being," GLO Discussion Paper Series 404, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. V. V. Simonov, 2018. "Socio-economic Issues in the Theory and Practice of Institutional Christianity," Outlines of global transformations: politics, economics, law, Center for Crisis Society Studies, vol. 11(4).
    7. R. N. Lunkin, 2018. "The Social and Political Role of Religion in Europe: the Demand for Christian Identity," Outlines of global transformations: politics, economics, law, Center for Crisis Society Studies, vol. 11(4).
    8. Joan Costa‐Font & Anna Nicińska, 2023. "Comrades in the family? Soviet communism and demand for family insurance," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(4), pages 526-612, November.
    9. Djankov, Simeon & Jolevski, Filip, 2020. "The post-communist transition at 30," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118920, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Guriev, Sergei & Melnikov, Nikita, 2018. "Happiness convergence in transition countries," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 683-707.
    11. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/4srj73kg79978qkvocpskj1tvb is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Adsera, Alicia & Dalla Pozza, Francesca & Guriev, Sergei & Kleine-Rueschkamp, Lukas & Nikolova, Elena, 2019. "Transition from Plan to Market, Height and Well-Being," IZA Discussion Papers 12658, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Educational Sciences; Armed Conflict; Health Care Services Industry; Food Security; Public Sector Administrative and Civil Service Reform; Economics and Finance of Public Institution Development; Public Sector Administrative&Civil Service Reform; Democratic Government; State Owned Enterprise Reform; De Facto Governments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • P35 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Public Finance
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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