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Religion, Human Capital Investments and the Family in the United States

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  • Lehrer, Evelyn L.

    () (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Abstract

This paper critically reviews what is known, based on analyses of micro-level U.S. data, about the role of religion in various interrelated decisions that people make over the life cycle, including investments in secular human capital, cohabitation, marriage, divorce, family size and employment. It also identifies gaps in our knowledge, and suggests agenda items for future research in the field. These include use of statistical models that allow for non-linearities in the effects associated with religious participation; consideration of contextual effects; and analyses that address anomalies found in earlier work regarding patterns of non-marital sex and divorce among conservative Protestants. Further work is also needed to increase our understanding of the role that religious factors are playing as various dimensions of the second demographic transition, along with elements of "American exceptionalism," continue to unfold in the U.S.

Suggested Citation

  • Lehrer, Evelyn L., 2009. "Religion, Human Capital Investments and the Family in the United States," IZA Discussion Papers 4279, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Mariya Aleksynska & Yann Algan, 2010. "Economic and Cultural Assimilation and Integration of Immigration in Europe," Working Papers 2010-29, CEPII research center.
    3. M. Niaz Asadullah, 2016. "Trust, trustworthiness, and traditional Islamic education," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 152-166, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    religiosity; religion;

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor

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