Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The Impact of Religious Traditions and Education Levels on Innovation Activity in Countries with Different Income Levels
AU - Okrah, James
AU - Nepp, Alexander
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - It is estimated that over 80% of the world's population identifies with a religious group. Religious beliefs can influence people's attitudes towards science, technology, and progress. Religious institutions can also provide resources and support for innovation. This means that religion has a significant impact on the lives of billions of people. The purpose of the article is to explore the impact of different religious traditions and the level of education of the population on innovative activity in countries with different income levels. The study formulated and confirmed three hypotheses: (1) Different religious institutions influence innovation differently; (2) Spreading of education enhances the positive effect of patent activity while the lack of education, on the contrary, weakens this effect; (3) Growth in religious diversity positively influences patent activity. The authors use panel data for 46 countries for the period between 1996 and 2016 and employ the fixed effects estimation. The results indicate that the spread of education among Protestants changed their attitude to the protection of property rights and, thus, increased the positive influence of the latter on patent activity. The growth of religious diversity, usually associated with greater tolerance in society, strengthens the positive influence of Protestantism. Our findings are consistent with the idea that religious institutions can influence innovation in different ways. Protestantism may be more conducive to innovation because it emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and creativity. Religious diversity may be beneficial for innovation because it can lead to greater tolerance and understanding.
AB - It is estimated that over 80% of the world's population identifies with a religious group. Religious beliefs can influence people's attitudes towards science, technology, and progress. Religious institutions can also provide resources and support for innovation. This means that religion has a significant impact on the lives of billions of people. The purpose of the article is to explore the impact of different religious traditions and the level of education of the population on innovative activity in countries with different income levels. The study formulated and confirmed three hypotheses: (1) Different religious institutions influence innovation differently; (2) Spreading of education enhances the positive effect of patent activity while the lack of education, on the contrary, weakens this effect; (3) Growth in religious diversity positively influences patent activity. The authors use panel data for 46 countries for the period between 1996 and 2016 and employ the fixed effects estimation. The results indicate that the spread of education among Protestants changed their attitude to the protection of property rights and, thus, increased the positive influence of the latter on patent activity. The growth of religious diversity, usually associated with greater tolerance in society, strengthens the positive influence of Protestantism. Our findings are consistent with the idea that religious institutions can influence innovation in different ways. Protestantism may be more conducive to innovation because it emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and creativity. Religious diversity may be beneficial for innovation because it can lead to greater tolerance and understanding.
UR - https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=54125995
U2 - 10.15826/vestnik.2023.22.2.010
DO - 10.15826/vestnik.2023.22.2.010
M3 - Article
VL - 22
SP - 216
EP - 241
JO - Journal of applied economic research
JF - Journal of applied economic research
SN - 2712-7435
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 42053191