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Divine restraint: An experimental analysis of religious preference and intertemporal discounting

Author

Listed:
  • Thornton, Jeremy
  • McCarty, Sara Helms
  • Stokes, Charles E.

Abstract

The propensity to delay gratification, measured by the discount rate, is associated with a variety of positive outcomes including higher rates of education and savings, as well as lower rates of poverty or addiction. There is a significant literature which supports a linkage between religion and self-regulation. We use an online experimental approach to test the influence of religious salience on intertemporal discount rates. The experiment used both real and hypothetical rewards in its design. Using a large sample, we are able to test the impact of religious primes across a variety of religious traditions as well as the non-religious. Contrary to previous studies, we do not find evidence that increased religious salience increases observed discount rates. Furthermore, we find no significant difference in the impact of religious salience across religious groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Thornton, Jeremy & McCarty, Sara Helms & Stokes, Charles E., 2017. "Divine restraint: An experimental analysis of religious preference and intertemporal discounting," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 99-110.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:67:y:2017:i:c:p:99-110
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2016.12.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Berns, Gregory S. & Loewenstein, George & Laibson, David I., 2007. "Intertemporal Choice - Toward an Integrative Framework," Scholarly Articles 4554332, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    2. Ilyana Kuziemko & Michael I. Norton & Emmanuel Saez & Stefanie Stantcheva, 2015. "How Elastic Are Preferences for Redistribution? Evidence from Randomized Survey Experiments," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(4), pages 1478-1508, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Experiment; Religion; Time preference; Discounting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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