Work

Religious Identity and Economic Behavior

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: We find using laboratory experiments that primes that make religion salient cause subjects to identify more with their religion and affect their economic choices. The effect on choices varies by religion. For example, priming causes Protestants to increase contributions to public goods, whereas Catholics decrease contributions to public goods, expect others to contribute less to public goods, and become less risk averse. A simple model implies that priming effects reveal the sign of the marginal impact of religious norms on preferences. We find no evidence of religious priming effects on disutility of work effort, discount rates, or dictator game generosity.

Source: The Review of Economics and Statistics

DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00586

Authors: Daniel J. Benjamin, James J. Choi, Geoffrey Fisher

Institutions: University of Southern California, National Bureau of Economic Research, Yale University, Cornell University

Language: English

Topic: Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging

Awards: Behaviors on Surveys and in the Economy: HRS and Beyond, NBER Training Program in Aging and Health Economics, Understanding and Improving Healthcare Decision-Making and Outcomes for People Living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, NBER Center for Aging and Health Research