A Cross-Country Study of Innovation and Religiosity

33 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2019 Last revised: 19 Sep 2020

See all articles by John Kalu Osiri

John Kalu Osiri

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Boris Houenou

Washington State University

Roberto Stein

University of Nebraska at Lincoln - Department of Finance

Date Written: September 10, 2019

Abstract

We look at the relationship between religion and innovation at the country level. Innovation is captured by the Global Innovation Index and certain innovation outputs. Religiosity is measured across 141 countries in terms of religious belonging, belief, and intolerance. In addition, we look at the effect of religion on patent applications and university-industry collaboration. Across all specifications, greater religiosity is negatively associated with innovation, with the strongest effects observed for religious intolerance. We find the negative relationship is robust to all religions, except for the Church of Sweden, where we see a strong position association.

Keywords: innovation, religion, GII, patents

JEL Classification: O30, O50, Z12

Suggested Citation

Osiri, John Kalu and Houenou, Boris and Stein, Roberto, A Cross-Country Study of Innovation and Religiosity (September 10, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3451502 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3451502

John Kalu Osiri (Contact Author)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln ( email )

Lincoln, NE 68588
United States

Boris Houenou

Washington State University ( email )

Wilson Rd.
College of Business
Pullman, WA 99164
United States

Roberto Stein

University of Nebraska at Lincoln - Department of Finance ( email )

Lincoln, NE 68588-0490
United States

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