Jan Fidrmuc (Université de Lille) - Does education affect religiosity? Causal evidence from a conservative emerging economy

BOFIT Seminar - Jan Fidrmuc (Université de Lille) - Does education affect religiosity? Causal evidence from a conservative emerging economy

Co-authors: Mustafa Özer (Kilis Yedi Aralık University, Emmanouil Mentzakis (University of Southampton) and Özcan Özkan (Kilis Yedi Aralık University) 

Abstract:

Do people become more or less religions with more education? The previous literature offers mixed findings on the relationship between education and religiosity. This may be due to endogeneity bias – education and religiosity can be caused by a third variables such as culture or upbringing. We instrument education by exposure to the 1997 education reform in Turkey which increased mandatory schooling from 5 to 8 years. The reform increased the probability that young girls complete 8 years of schooling and reduced their later-in-life self-reported religiosity. In contrast, it did not influence such outcomes for boys. These effects are primarily observed for females growing up in strongly religious or poor areas.

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