The power of religion
Journal of Economic Growth • Vol/Iss. Online only • Springer • • Published In • Pages: 1-34 •
By Bentzen, Jeanet Sinding , Gokmen, Gunes
Hypothesis
Societies with more religious laws in the past are less democratic.
Note
This seeks to test the theory that societies that used religion for legitimacy in the past are more likely to be autocratic today. The authors also run tests to show that a presence of high gods in the past and a higher irrigation potential also reduce the likelihood of democracy, and that these effects appear to be largely influenced by the effect of religious law. It is also noted that modern Muslim countries account for a significant amount of this effect.
| Test Name | Support | Significance | Coefficient | Tail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Least Squares | Supported | p<.01 | UNKNOWN | UNKNOWN |
| Variable Name | Variable Type | OCM Term(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Presence of Religious Laws | Independent | Law, Theological Systems |
| Degree of Democracy | Dependent | Form And Rules Of Government |