Abstract
Max Weber's (1904) thesis that the Protestant Reformation was instrumental in facilitating industrial capitalism in Western Europe is generally viewed as the "most famous link between culture and economic development." Weber suggested that Protestants had a specific work ethic that made them work harder and save more. In recent work, an alternative explanation has been proposed that receives strong empirical support: Protestants had higher human capital, which made them more productive and therefore increased their economic prosperity. This article explores the recent advancements in the economics of religion that assign a leading role to human capital in understanding the economic effects of the Reformation. It first provides a brief sketch of the underlying theory and then presents extensive evidence on the effects of the Reformation on human capital using data from nineteenth-century Prussia. The article also discusses consequences beyond education, covering effects on economic development as well as on the fertility decline. Evidence from outside Prussia, both across and within countries, is also presented.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Religion |
| Editors | Rachel M. McCleary |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Pages | 93-110 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Edition | 1st |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780199940332 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780195390049 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Economic development
- Economics
- Education
- Fertility
- Human capital
- Protestants
- Prussia
- Reformation
- Religion
Cite this
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The effects of the Protestant Reformation on human capital. / Becker, Sascha O.; Woessmann, Ludger.
The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Religion. ed. / Rachel M. McCleary. 1st. ed. Oxford University Press, 2011. p. 93-110.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
TY - CHAP
T1 - The effects of the Protestant Reformation on human capital
AU - Becker, Sascha O.
AU - Woessmann, Ludger
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Max Weber's (1904) thesis that the Protestant Reformation was instrumental in facilitating industrial capitalism in Western Europe is generally viewed as the "most famous link between culture and economic development." Weber suggested that Protestants had a specific work ethic that made them work harder and save more. In recent work, an alternative explanation has been proposed that receives strong empirical support: Protestants had higher human capital, which made them more productive and therefore increased their economic prosperity. This article explores the recent advancements in the economics of religion that assign a leading role to human capital in understanding the economic effects of the Reformation. It first provides a brief sketch of the underlying theory and then presents extensive evidence on the effects of the Reformation on human capital using data from nineteenth-century Prussia. The article also discusses consequences beyond education, covering effects on economic development as well as on the fertility decline. Evidence from outside Prussia, both across and within countries, is also presented.
AB - Max Weber's (1904) thesis that the Protestant Reformation was instrumental in facilitating industrial capitalism in Western Europe is generally viewed as the "most famous link between culture and economic development." Weber suggested that Protestants had a specific work ethic that made them work harder and save more. In recent work, an alternative explanation has been proposed that receives strong empirical support: Protestants had higher human capital, which made them more productive and therefore increased their economic prosperity. This article explores the recent advancements in the economics of religion that assign a leading role to human capital in understanding the economic effects of the Reformation. It first provides a brief sketch of the underlying theory and then presents extensive evidence on the effects of the Reformation on human capital using data from nineteenth-century Prussia. The article also discusses consequences beyond education, covering effects on economic development as well as on the fertility decline. Evidence from outside Prussia, both across and within countries, is also presented.
KW - Economic development
KW - Economics
KW - Education
KW - Fertility
KW - Human capital
KW - Protestants
KW - Prussia
KW - Reformation
KW - Religion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84923418663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195390049.013.0005
DO - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195390049.013.0005
M3 - Chapter (Book)
SN - 9780195390049
SP - 93
EP - 110
BT - The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Religion
A2 - McCleary, Rachel M.
PB - Oxford University Press
ER -