Title

Forbidden Fruits: The Political Economy of Science, Religion, and Growth

Author(s)

Roland Roland Bénabou Roland Roland Bénabou (Princeton University)

Davide Ticchi Davide Ticchi (Marche Polytechnic University)

Andrea Vindigni Andrea Vindigni (University of Genova)

Abstract

We study the coevolution of religion, science and politics. We first uncover, in international and U.S. data, a robust negative relationship between religiosity and patents per capita. The model then combines: (i) scientific discoveries that raise productivity but sometimes erode religious beliefs; (ii) a government that allows innovations to diffuse, or blocks them; (iii) religious institutions that can invest in doctrinal reform. Three long-term outcomes emerge. The Western-European Secularization regime has declining religiosity, unimpeded science, and high taxes and transfers. The Theocratic regime involves knowledge stagnation, unquestioned dogma, and high religious-public-goods spending. The American regime combines scientific progress and stable religiosity through doctrinal adaptations, with low taxes and some fiscal-legal advantages for religious activities. Rising income inequality can, however, empower a Religious-Right alliance that starts blocking belief-eroding ideas.

Creation Date

2020-07

Section URL ID

Paper Number

2020-24

URL

https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/rbenabou/files/forbidden_fruits_july_2020_paper_0.pdf

File Function

Jel

E02, H11, H41, O3, O43, P16, Z12

Keyword(s)

science, discovery, innovation, progress, knowledge, religion, secularization, tolerance, religious right, theocracy, politics, populism, denialism, inequality, redistribution

Suppress

false

Series

13