The Evolution of Secularization: Cultural Transmission, Religion and Fertility Theory, Simulations and Evidence

63 Pages Posted: 5 Sep 2010

See all articles by Ronen Bar-El

Ronen Bar-El

Open University of Israel

Teresa García-Muñoz

University of Granada - Campus La Cartuja

Shoshana Neuman

Bar-Ilan University - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Yossef Tobol

The Jerusalem College of Technology; The Carmel Academic Center

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 1, 2010

Abstract

This study presents an evolutionary process of secularization that integrates a theoretical model, simulations, and an empirical estimation that employs data from 32 countries (included in the International Social Survey Program: Religion II – ISSP, 1998). Following Bisin and Verdier (2000, 2001a), it is assumed that cultural/social norms are transmitted from one generation to the next one via two venues: (i) direct socialization – across generations, by parents; and (ii) oblique socialization – within generations, by the community and cultural environment. This paper focuses on the transmission of religious norms and in particular on the 'religious taste for children'. The theoretical framework describes the setting and the process leading to secularization of the population; the simulations give more insight into the process; and 'secularization regressions' estimate the effects of the various explanatory variables on secularization (that is measured by rare mass-attendance and by rare-prayer), lending support to corollaries derived from the theory and simulations. The main conclusions/findings are that (i) direct religious socialization efforts of one generation have a negative effect on secularization within the next generation; (ii) oblique socialization by the community has a parabolic effect on secularization; and (iii) the two types of socialization are complements in 'producing' religiosity of the next generation.

Keywords: Cultural Transmission, Religion, Fertility, Secularization, ISSP

Suggested Citation

Bar-El, Ronen and García-Muñoz, Teresa and Neuman, Shoshana and Tobol, Yossef, The Evolution of Secularization: Cultural Transmission, Religion and Fertility Theory, Simulations and Evidence (June 1, 2010). Bar-Ilan University Department of Economics Research Paper No. 2010-10, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1669173 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1669173

Ronen Bar-El

Open University of Israel ( email )

Teresa García-Muñoz

University of Granada - Campus La Cartuja ( email )

Campus La Cartuja
Granada
Spain

Shoshana Neuman (Contact Author)

Bar-Ilan University - Department of Economics ( email )

Ramat-Gan, 52900
Israel
+972 3 531 8393 (Phone)
+972 3 535 3180 (Fax)

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Yossef Tobol

The Jerusalem College of Technology ( email )

Jerusalem
Israel

HOME PAGE: http://www.jct.ac.il/he/tobol

The Carmel Academic Center ( email )

Haifa
Israel