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The Effect of Income on Religiousness

Author

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  • Thomas Buser
Abstract
How does income affect religiousness? Using self-collected survey data, we estimate the effects of income on religious behaviour. As a source of exogenous income variation we use a change in the eligibility criteria for a government cash transfer in Ecuador and apply a regression discontinuity strategy to estimate causal effects. We find significant effects of income on religiousness. Households that earn more go to church more often. Households that earn more are also more likely to be members of an evangelical community rather than of the mainstream catholic church.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Buser, 2014. "The Effect of Income on Religiousness," CESifo Working Paper Series 4801, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_4801
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    religion; income effects; regression discontinuity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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