Please note the earlier start to this Seminar

School of Economics 

Invites you to a

School seminar presented by

Jeanet Sinding Bentzen

(University of Copenhagen)

In the Name of God! Religiosity

and the Emergence of Modern Science and Growth:

 Thursday 8 June 2023

10.45am – 12.15pm

 Level 6 Seminar Room (650)

A02 Social Sciences Building

The University of Sydney
NSW 2006

  Zoom: 89815799008

Passcode: 167013

We examine the role played by religion in the emergence of modern science and economic growth. To do so, we construct novel measures of historical religiosity based on a literature in psychology and sociology, which shows that given names reveal cultural identities of parents. To validate our measures, we find that among 487,000 individuals born in Europe between 1300 and 1940, those with religious names were more likely to hold religious occupations and to be born in areas where surveys reveal higher religiosity levels. Next, we find that individuals with religious names were less inclined to later become scientists, engineers, or to engage in advanced studies. For identification, we exploit that religious naming is more likely after earthquakes, even for individuals not physically impacted. Last, we find that economic growth was slower in religious cities. One mechanism is fewer scientists and innovators. The results are consistent with a literature arguing that religion may hamper the development of modern science, which became particularly important for economic growth after the technological revolution. Results hold in an alternative dataset, accounting for a host of confounders, and comparing individuals born within the same square kilometer and year.

For further information contact: School seminar series coordinators
Ye Lu (ye.lu1@sydney.edu.au) & Alastair Fraser (alastair.fraser@sydney.edu.au)

For all upcoming seminars in School of Economics see Our events and Calendar