The authors have used an analysis of the determinants of religiosity to construct a set of
instrumental variables to estimate the effects of religion on economic growth. The
instruments are dummy variables for the existence of a state religion and for state
regulation of religion, the composition of religious adherence among the main religions,
and the extent of religious pluralism. Their results show that, for given religious beliefs,
increases in church attendance tend to reduce economic growth. In contrast, for given
levels of church attendance, increases in some religious beliefs-notably belief in hell,
heaven, and an afterlife-tend to increase economic growth. There is some indication that
the fear of hell is more potent for economic growth than is the prospect of heaven.
They stress that these patterns of growth effects apply when we control for reverse
causation by using the instrumental variables suggested by our analysis of the
determinants of religiosity. The results remain intact when we enter the composition of
religious adherence into the growth equations. Based on the arguable exogeneity of the
instrumental variables, they conclude that the estimates reflect causal influences from
religion to economic growth, rather than the reverse.
The authors contend that stronger religious beliefs stimulate growth because they
help sustain specific individual behaviors that enhance productivity. They argue that
higher levels of church attendance depress economic growth because greater attendance
signifies a larger use of resources by the religion sector, and the main output of this sector
(the religious beliefs) has already been held constant. The results do not mean that greater
church attendance has a net negative influence on economic growth-this net effect
depends on the extent to which an increase in attendance leads to stronger beliefs, which
in turn encourage growth. Their results also indicate that, for given religious beliefs, the
overall effect of greater church attendance is to reduce economic growth. This overall
effect combines the resources used up by the religion sector, the social capital aspect of
this sector, and the influence of organized religion on laws and regulations.
The authors have used an analysis of the determinants of religiosity to construct a set of instrumental variables to estimate the effects of religion on economic growth. The instruments are dummy variables for the existence of a state religion and for state regulation of religion, the composition of religious adherence among the main religions, and the extent of religious pluralism. Their results show that, for given religious beliefs, increases in church attendance tend to reduce economic growth. In contrast, for given levels of church attendance, increases in some religious beliefs-notably belief in hell, heaven, and an afterlife-tend to increase economic growth. There is some indication that the fear of hell is more potent for economic growth than is the prospect of heaven. They stress that these patterns of growth effects apply when we control for reverse causation by using the instrumental variables suggested by our analysis of the determinants of religiosity. The results remain intact when we enter the composition of religious adherence into the growth equations. Based on the arguable exogeneity of the instrumental variables, they conclude that the estimates reflect causal influences from religion to economic growth, rather than the reverse. The authors contend that stronger religious beliefs stimulate growth because they help sustain specific individual behaviors that enhance productivity. They argue that higher levels of church attendance depress economic growth because greater attendance signifies a larger use of resources by the religion sector, and the main output of this sector (the religious beliefs) has already been held constant. The results do not mean that greater church attendance has a net negative influence on economic growth-this net effect depends on the extent to which an increase in attendance leads to stronger beliefs, which in turn encourage growth. Their results also indicate that, for given religious beliefs, the overall effect of greater church attendance is to reduce economic growth. This overall effect combines the resources used up by the religion sector, the social capital aspect of this sector, and the influence of organized religion on laws and regulations.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
