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Religions, Fertility, And Growth In Southeast Asia

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  • David de la Croix
  • Clara Delavallade

Abstract

We investigate the extent to which the pronatalism of religions impedes growth via the fertility/education channel. Using Southeast Asian censuses, we show empirically that being Catholic, Buddhist, or Muslim significantly raises fertility, especially for couples with intermediate to high education levels. With these estimates, we identify the parameters of a structural model. Catholicism is strongly pro†child (increasing total spending on children), followed by Buddhism, whereas Islam is more pro†birth (redirecting spending from quality to quantity). Pro†child religions depress growth in its early stages by lowering savings and labor supply. In the later stages of growth, pro†birth religions impede human capital accumulation.

Suggested Citation

  • David de la Croix & Clara Delavallade, 2018. "Religions, Fertility, And Growth In Southeast Asia," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 59(2), pages 907-946, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:59:y:2018:i:2:p:907-946
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12291
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    Cited by:

    1. Bethencourt, Carlos & Santos-Torres, Daniel, 2023. "Gender-role identity in adolescence and women fertility in adulthood," MPRA Paper 116321, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Akyol, Pelin & Ökten, Çağla, 2024. "The role of religion in female labor supply: evidence from two Muslim denominations," Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 90(1), pages 116-153, March.
    3. Zainab Iftikhar, 2018. "The effect of norms on fertility and its implications for the quantity-quality trade-off in Pakistan," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2018014, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    4. Dayuan Xie & Yonghong Zhou, 2022. "Religion effects on fertility preference: evidence from China," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 341-371, September.
    5. Gitanjali Sen & Mitul Surana & Rakesh Basant, 2023. "To What Extent Does the Fertility Rate Explain the Education Gap?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(3), pages 1-31, June.
    6. Mikula, Stepan & Reggiani, Tommaso G. & Sabatini, Fabio, 2025. "The Long-Term Impact of Church Activity on Social Capital: Lessons from Post-War Czechoslovakia," IZA Discussion Papers 17981, IZA Network @ LISER.
    7. Štěpán Mikula & Tommaso Reggiani & Fabio Sabatini, 2023. "The long-term impact of religion on social capital: lessons from post-war Czechoslovakia," MUNI ECON Working Papers 2023-03, Masaryk University.
    8. Chabé-Ferret, Bastien, 2019. "Adherence to cultural norms and economic incentives: Evidence from fertility timing decisions," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 24-48.
    9. Sascha O. Becker & Markus Nagler & Ludger Woessmann, 2017. "Education and religious participation: city-level evidence from Germany’s secularization period 1890–1930," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 273-311, September.
    10. de la Croix, David & Perrin, Faustine, 2018. "How far can economic incentives explain the French fertility and education transition?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 221-245.
    11. Malik, Samreen & Mihm, Benedikt, 2022. "Parental religiosity and human capital development: A field study in Pakistan," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 519-560.
    12. Tien Manh Vu & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2024. "Impacts of religion on sex selection in Vietnam," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1603-1621, December.
    13. de la Croix, David & Gobbi, Paula E., 2017. "Population density, fertility, and demographic convergence in developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 13-24.
    14. Dao, Nguyen Thang & Vasilakis, Chrysovalantis, 2025. "The demographic transition and stagnation in countries vulnerable to climate change," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    15. Ishise, Hirokazu, 2025. "Religion as an informal institution: A case of true pure land Buddhism and missing women in early modern Japan," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    16. Diebolt, Claude & Mishra, Tapas & Perrin, Faustine, 2021. "Gender empowerment as an enforcer of individuals’ choice between education and fertility: Evidence from 19th century France," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 408-438.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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