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“Striving for Savings” – religion and individual economic behavior

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  • Anja Klaubert

    () (Institute of Economics, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany)

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    Abstract

    In the Neoclassical growth model the saving ratio and human capital might be seen as the most important factors fostering economic growth. At last since Weber [2005 (1904/05)] it seems clear, that religious beliefs and involvement shapes both social and economic human behavior. This paper tests the hypothesis whether religious belonging and believing influence a household’s economic decision-making in the USA, which was found to foster economic growth, namely the saving ratio at the individual level. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we find religious effects on saving. Regarding the decision to save money no large differences within the Christian religions, namely Protestants and Catholics, were found. However, large differences exist compared to non-religious people as well as to Non-Christians and Jews.

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    Bibliographic Info

    Paper provided by University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics in its series Working Paper Series in Economics with number 162.

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    Length: 27 pages
    Date of creation: Jan 2010
    Date of revision:
    Handle: RePEc:lue:wpaper:162

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    Web page: http://leuphana.de/institute/ivwl.html

    Related research

    Keywords: growth; religion; individual saving behavior;

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    References

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    1. Renneboog, L.D.R. & Spaenjers, C., 2009. "Where Angels Fear to Trade: The Role of Religion in Household Finance," Discussion Paper 2009-018, Tilburg University, Tilburg Law and Economic Center.
    2. B. Douglas Bernheim & Daniel M. Garrett & Dean M. Maki, 1997. "Education and Saving: The Long-Term Effects of High School Financial Curriculum Mandates," Working Papers 97012, Stanford University, Department of Economics.
    3. Harvey S. Rosen & Stephen Wu, 2003. "Portfolio Choice and Health Status," NBER Working Papers 9453, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Kerwin Kofi Charles & Erik Hurst, 2003. "The Correlation of Wealth across Generations," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 111(6), pages 1155-1182, December.
    5. Guiso, Luigi & Sapienza, Paola & Zingales, Luigi, 2006. "Does Culture Affect Economic Outcomes?," CEPR Discussion Papers 5505, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Savings and religion
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2010-03-10 17:53:00
    2. Religion and Savings
      by Liam Delaney in Geary Behaviour Centre on 2010-03-10 19:30:00

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    1. Economic Logic blog

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