Abstract This paper studies when religion can hamper diffusion of knowledge and economic development, and through which mechanism. I examine Catholicism in France during the Second Industrial Revolution (1870–1914). In this period, technology became skill-intensive, leading to the introduction of technical education in primary schools. I find that more religious locations had lower economic development after 1870. Schooling appears to be the key mechanism: more religious areas saw a slower adoption of the technical curriculum and a push for religious education. In turn, religious education was negatively associated with industrial development 10 to 15 years later, when schoolchildren entered the labor market.
Citation Squicciarini, Mara P. 2020. "Devotion and Development: Religiosity, Education, and Economic Progress in Nineteenth-Century France." American Economic Review , 110 (11): 3454-91 . DOI: 10.1257/aer.20191054 Choose Format: BibTeX EndNote Refer/BibIX RIS Tab-Delimited
epocstorybro on October 28th, 2020 at 17:25 UTC »
Yes, religious schooling 100 years ago was more religious than technical. The floor is made of floor. This doesn’t relate to any actionable or helpful addition to current discussions on education quality.
LoreleiOpine on October 28th, 2020 at 15:58 UTC »
I don't doubt it, but it's curious to say "hampers" when you're talking about the 19th century and early 20th century.
AdmiralAkbar1 on October 28th, 2020 at 14:55 UTC »
Were there other factors involved? I imagine fairly poor areas would have relatively weak government institutions, and rely more heavily on private and/or religious institutions to fill the gap.