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Randomizing religion: the impact of Protestant evangelicalism on economic outcomes

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  • Bryan, Gharad
  • Choi, James J
  • Karlan, Dean

Abstract

We study the causal impact of religiosity through a randomized evaluation of an evangelical Protestant Christian values and theology education program. We analyze outcomes for 6,276 ultra-poor Filipino households six months after the program ended. We find increases in religiosity and income, no statistically significant changes in total labor supply, consumption, food security, or life satisfaction, and a decrease in perceived relative economic status. Exploratory analysis suggests that the income treatment effect may operate through increasing grit. We conclude that this church-based program may represent a robust method of building non-cognitive skills and reducing poverty among adults in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryan, Gharad & Choi, James J & Karlan, Dean, 2018. "Randomizing religion: the impact of Protestant evangelicalism on economic outcomes," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 102590, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:102590
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    Cited by:

    1. Francisco Costa & Angelo Marcantonio & Rudi Rocha, 2023. "Stop Suffering! Economic Downturns and Pentecostal Upsurge," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 21(1), pages 215-250.
    2. Lee Crawfurd, 2021. "Contact and Commitment to Development: Evidence from quasi‐random missionary assignments," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(1), pages 3-18, February.
    3. Mendolia Silvia & Paloyo Alfredo & Walker Ian, 2019. "Intrinsic Religiosity, Personality Traits, and Adolescent Risky Behaviors," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Hasan, Iftekhar & Noth, Felix & Tonzer, Lena, 2019. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against your customers: Cultural norms and the Volkswagen scandal," IWH Discussion Papers 21/2019, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    religion; economics; poverty; non-cognitive skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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