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Effects of Religiosity on Social Behaviour: Experimental Evidence From a Representative Sample of Spaniards

Author

Listed:
  • Pablo Brañas-Garza
  • Antonio M. Espín
  • Shoshana Neuman

    (Bar-Ilan University)

Abstract

This study explores the effect of several personal religion-related variables on social behaviour, using three paradigmatic economic games: the dictator (DG), ultimatum (UG), and trust (TG) games. A large carefully designed sample of a Spanish urban adult population (N=766) is employed. From participants’ decisions in these games we obtain measures of altruism, bargaining behaviour and sense of fairness/equality, trust, and positive reciprocity. Three dimensions of religiosity are examined: (i) religious denomination; (ii) the intensity of religiosity, measured by active participation at church services; and (iii) converting out into a different denomination than the one raised in. The major results are: (i) individuals with “no religion” made decisions closer to rational selfish behaviour in the DG and the UG compared to those who affiliate with a “standard” religious denomination; (ii) among Catholics, intensity of religiosity is the key variable that affects social behaviour insofar as religiously-active individuals are generally more pro-social than non-active ones; and (iii) the religion raised in seems to have no effect on pro-sociality, beyond the effect of the current measures of religiosity. Importantly, behaviour in the TG is not predicted by any of the religion-related variables we analyse. Given the accelerating share of “no religion” individuals (in Europe and elsewhere) and the large influx of immigrants – who tend to be more religiously active compared to the native populations – our findings have significant implications for the future pro-sociality patterns in Europe.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo Brañas-Garza & Antonio M. Espín & Shoshana Neuman, 2013. "Effects of Religiosity on Social Behaviour: Experimental Evidence From a Representative Sample of Spaniards," Working Papers 2013-07, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:biu:wpaper:2013-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Niaz Asadullah, 2017. "Who Trusts Others? Community and Individual Determinants of Social Capital in a Low-Income Country," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 41(2), pages 515-544.
    2. Aneela Sana Akhtar & Akhtar Ali & Sobia Altaf, 2020. "Impact of Religion on the Personality Development of Non-Muslims Students Living in Pakistan," Global Regional Review, Humanity Only, vol. 5(1), pages 434-441, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic experiments; religion; church attendance; pro-social behaviour; Spain;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C7 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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