Religious Identity and Economic Behavior

Daniel Benjamin, James Choi and Geoffrey W. Fisher

No 15925, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We randomly vary religious identity salience in laboratory subjects to test how identity salience contributes to six hypothesized links from prior literature between religious identity and economic behavior. We find that religious identity salience makes Protestants increase contributions to public goods. Catholics decrease contributions to public goods, expect others to contribute less to public goods, and become less risk averse. Jews more strongly reciprocate as an employee in a bilateral labor market gift-exchange game. We find no evidence of religious identity salience effects on disutility of work effort, discount rates, or generosity in a dictator game.

JEL-codes: D64 D71 D90 G11 H41 J22 Z12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-04
Note: AP LS POL
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (45)

Published as Daniel J. Benjamin & James J. Choi & Geoffrey Fisher, 2016. "Religious Identity and Economic Behavior," Review of Economics and Statistics, vol 98(4), pages 617-637.

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Journal Article: Religious Identity and Economic Behavior (2016)
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