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Does Education Affect Religiosity? Causal Evidence from a Conservative Emerging Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Mustafa Özer

    (Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Science, Kilis Yedi Aralık University, Kilis)

  • Jan Fidrmuc

    (LEM - Lille économie management - UMR 9221 - UA - Université d'Artois - UCL - Université catholique de Lille - Université de Lille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Emmanouil Mentzakis

    (University of London [London])

  • Özcan Özkan

    (Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Science, Kilis Yedi Aralık University, Kilis,)

Abstract

Does education make people more or less religious? The previous literature offers mixed findings on the relationship between education and religiosity. This may be due to endogeneity bias: education and religiosity can be caused by a third variable such as culture or upbringing. We instrument education by exposure to the 1997 education reform in Turkey which increased mandatory schooling from 5 to 8 years. The schooling reform increased the probability that young girls would complete 8 years of schooling and report lower religiosity later in life. The reform apparently did not influence such outcomes for boys. These effects are observed primarily in females growing up in strongly religious or poor areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Mustafa Özer & Jan Fidrmuc & Emmanouil Mentzakis & Özcan Özkan, 2024. "Does Education Affect Religiosity? Causal Evidence from a Conservative Emerging Economy," Post-Print hal-04544128, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04544128
    DOI: 10.1093/cesifo/ifae003
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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