Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 136 No. 1 2020

Randomizing Religion: the Impact of Protestant Evangelism on Economic Outcomes

Gharad Bryan¹; James J. Choi²; Dean Karlan³

¹ London School of Economics, Innovations for Poverty Action, MIT Jameel Poverty Action Lab, and Centre for Economic Policy Research · ² Yale University and National Bureau of Economic Research · ³ Northwestern University, Innovations for Poverty Action, MIT Jameel Poverty Action Lab, National Bureau of Economic Research, and Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract

We study the causal impact of religiosity through a randomized evaluation of an evangelical Protestant Christian values and theology education program delivered to thousands of ultrapoor Filipino households. Six months after the program ended, treated households have higher religiosity and income; no statistically significant differences in total labor supply, consumption, food security, or life satisfaction; and lower perceived relative economic status. Exploratory analysis suggests that the income treatment effect may operate through increasing grit. Thirty months after the program ended, significant differences in the intensity of religiosity disappear, but those in the treatment group are less likely to be Catholic and more likely to be Protestant, and there is some mixed evidence that their consumption and perceived relative economic status are higher.

DOI

10.1093/qje/qjaa023

Volume

136

Issue

1

Pages

293-380

Language

en

Sources

bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

Cite

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