In sub-Saharan Africa, despite the adoption of Christianity, traditional religious beliefs remain widely held. We examine the social consequences of holding traditional religious beliefs among urban and rural populations in central Africa. Using a variety of lab-in-the-field experiments that randomize partner characteristics, we test whether individuals who believe in traditional religion are treated or viewed […]
BREAD Working Paper No. 564, June 2019
Leader Identity and Coordination Sonia Bhalotra, Irma Clots-Figueras, Lakshmi Iyer, Joseph Vecci Abstract This paper examines policy effectiveness as a function of leader identity. We experimentally vary leader religious identity in a coordination game implemented in India, and focus upon citizen reactions to leader identity, controlling for leader actions. We find that minority leaders improve […]
BREAD Working Paper No. 577, May 2020
Islam and the State: Religious Education in the Age of Mass Schooling Samuel Bazzi, Masyhur Hilmy, Benjamin Marx Abstract Public schooling systems are an essential feature of modern states. These systems often developed at the expense of religious schools, which undertook the bulk of education historically and still cater to large student populations worldwide. This […]