The importance of religion for development. An empirical analysis from the Mincer equation
Keywords:
economy, human development, welfare, religion, religiosityAbstract
The document studies, through an amplified version of the Mincer equation that incorporates religion (belief and level of religious practice), the incidence of religion and religiosity on economic development and the well-being of people in Argentina. Three different models were made to capture what happens when the definition of development is amplified through income, living conditions and general well-being. Being very religious, Jewish, or practicing, even a little, other religions, has a negative effect. Being a practitioner has a positive effect. Religion and religiosity have less effect on the subsistence index. Being a practitioner is associated, in most
religions, with a better satisfaction index. Given these specifications and applied methodology it has not been possible to determine whether being an atheist or a believer is a relevant distinction to well-being. Future in-depth investigations will be made and are recommended.
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