THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION: TESTING THE WEBER HYPOTHESIS IN THE GERMAN LANDS. Issue 4 (24th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cantoni, Davide
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Economic Association. Volume 13:Issue 4(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 561
• Page End: 598
• Publication Date: 2014-11-24
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; Économie politique -- Périodiques; Science économique; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 330
• DOI: 10.1111/jeea.12117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1542-4766

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Following Max Weber, many theories have hypothesized that Protestantism should have favored economic development. With its religious heterogeneity, the Holy Roman Empire presents an ideal testing ground for this hypothesis. Using population figures of 272 cities in the years 1300–1900, I find no effects of Protestantism on economic growth. The finding is precisely estimated, robust to the inclusion of various controls, and does not depend on data selection or small sample size. Denominational differences in fertility behavior and literacy are unlikely to be major confounding factors. Protestantism has no effect when interacted with other likely determinants of economic development. Instrumental variables estimates, considering the potential endogeneity of religious choice, are similar to the OLS results.</p> </abstract>