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Religious diversity and regional development in China

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  • Ying, Zheng
  • Liu, Shibao
  • Bao, Shuming
  • Zhou, Jianbo

Abstract

This paper investigates possible impacts of religious diversity on regional development in China. We developed the religious fragmentation and polarization indices as measurements for the religious diversity by using the religious site data from the 2004 economic Census data in China. The results from the panel data regressions within national coverage suggest that the religious diversity has positive and significant impacts on regional development in general. The results from the panel data regressions within regional coverage also suggest that religious fragmentation has a positive and significant association with the economic development in the eastern region of China while religious polarization has a positive and significant association with the economic development in the central and western regions of China.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying, Zheng & Liu, Shibao & Bao, Shuming & Zhou, Jianbo, 2017. "Religious diversity and regional development in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 1-9.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:46:y:2017:i:c:p:1-9
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2017.08.003
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhang, Yi & Liu, Chun, 2021. "Religion and unproductive entrepreneurship: The role of risk aversion," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    3. Niu, Geng & Zhao, Guochang, 2018. "Religion and trust in strangers among China's rural-urban migrants," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 265-272.
    4. Sheng Yao & Weiwei Zhang, 2020. "Is Private Entrepreneurs’ Religiosity Conducive to Environmental Investment? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Le, Thai-Ha & Bui, Manh-Tien & Uddin, Gazi Salah, 2022. "Economic and social impacts of conflict: A cross-country analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    6. Miao, Shuchao & Chi, Jing & Liao, Jing & Qian, Long, 2021. "How does religious belief promote farmer entrepreneurship in rural China?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 95-104.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Religion diversity; Fragmentation; Polarization; Regional development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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