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Religious Practice and Student Performance: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting

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  • Hornung, Erik

    (University of Cologne)

  • Schwerdt, Guido

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Strazzeri, Maurizio

    (Bern University of Applied Sciences)

Abstract

We investigate how the intensity of Ramadan affects educational outcomes by exploiting spatio-temporal variation in annual fasting hours. Longer fasting hours are related to increases in student performance in a panel of TIMMS test scores (1995–2019) across Muslim countries but not other countries. Results are confirmed in a panel of PISA test scores (2003–2018) allowing within country-wave comparisons of Muslim to non-Muslim students across Europe. We provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis that a demanding Ramadan during adolescence affects educational performance by facilitating formation of social capital and social identity via increased religious participation and shared experiences among students.

Suggested Citation

  • Hornung, Erik & Schwerdt, Guido & Strazzeri, Maurizio, 2021. "Religious Practice and Student Performance: Evidence from Ramadan Fasting," IZA Discussion Papers 14769, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14769
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    Cited by:

    1. Erik Hornung & Guido Schwerdt & Maurizio Strazzeri, 2022. "Ramadan intensity and subsequent student achievement," ECONtribute Policy Brief Series 027, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    2. Sascha O. Becker & Jared Rubin & Ludger Woessmann, 2024. "Religion and Growth," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(3), pages 1094-1142, September.
    3. Kyra Hanemaaijer & Olivier Marie & Marco Musumeci, 2023. "The Fast and The Studious? Ramadan Observance and Student Performance," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 23-023/V, Tinbergen Institute.
    4. Birkholz, Carlo & Gomtsyan, David, 2023. "Immigrant religious practices and criminality: The case of Ramadan," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 90-104.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    education; religion; religious participation; Ramadan; social identity; social capital; PISA; TIMMS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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