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Religion and Cooperation across the Globe

Author

Listed:
  • Caicedo, Felipe Valencia

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Dohmen, Thomas

    (University of Bonn and IZA)

  • Pondorfer, Andreas

    (Technical University of Munich)

Abstract

Social science research has stressed the important role of religion in sustaining cooperation among non-kin. We contribute to this literature with a large-scale empirical study documenting the relationship between religion and cooperation. We analyze newly available, experimentally validated, and globally representative data on social preferences and world religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism). We find that individuals who report believing in such religions also exhibit more prosocial preferences, as measured by their levels of positive reciprocity, altruism and trust. We further document heterogeneous patterns of negative reciprocity and punishment—two key elements for cooperation—across world religions. The association between religion and prosocial preferences is stronger in more populous societies and weaker in countries with better institutions. The interactive results between these variables point again towards the substitutability between religious and secular institutions, when it comes to sustaining cooperation.

Suggested Citation

  • Caicedo, Felipe Valencia & Dohmen, Thomas & Pondorfer, Andreas, 2023. "Religion and Cooperation across the Globe," IZA Discussion Papers 16026, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16026
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    religion; prosociality; human cooperation; population; institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • 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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