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The price of religiosity: Enticing young Haredi men into secular academic studies

Author

Listed:
  • Yossi Perelman

    (University of Haifa, Israel)

  • Meir Yaish

    (Department of Sociology, University of Haifa, Israel)

  • Benjamin Bental

    (Department of Economics, University of Haifa, Israel)

Abstract

Standard economic theory cannot explain why so few Haredi (ultra-orthodox) men attain college degrees in Israel, despite the significant economic returns to such degrees. In addition to economic variables, this article introduces a combination of social and behavioral characteristics, such as religious identity, into the individual choice process. This, in turn, enables us to evaluate a possible trade-off between economic benefits associated with a college degree and the corresponding loss of religious identity in the decision of young ultra-orthodox Israeli men to attain a college degree. In the language of standard economics, we simply ask: What is the economic price Haredi men are willing to pay for their religious beliefs? Utilizing case-control sampling and analysis techniques, we collected retrospective data on Haredi men who study in academic higher education institutes ( N  = 410) and matched them to Haredi men who do not attend college ( N  = 310). Our logit econometric model indicates that Haredi men, even those with extreme orthodox beliefs, respond to economic incentives. However, our model indicates that the size of the incentives required to entice academic studies increases with the intensity of religious beliefs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yossi Perelman & Meir Yaish & Benjamin Bental, 2019. "The price of religiosity: Enticing young Haredi men into secular academic studies," Rationality and Society, , vol. 31(2), pages 129-151, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:31:y:2019:i:2:p:129-151
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463119831271
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shraberman, Kyrill & Weinreb, Alexander A., 2024. "The fiscal consequences of changing demographic composition: Aging and differential growth across Israel’s three major subpopulations," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    2. Yossi Perelman & Chen Goldberg, 2024. "Untangling expectations and sacrifices: Ultra-Orthodox men in Israel and the religious club model," Rationality and Society, , vol. 36(3), pages 289-311, August.

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