Culture and Public Goods: The Case of Religion and the Voluntary Provision of Environmental Quality

Abstract

Using data from approximately 11,000 individuals in 14 different OECD regions, we find that culture, as expressed by religious beliefs, generates public goods contributions. We characterize individuals into systems of religious beliefs using latent class analysis and find that some types of beliefs influence pro-environment behaviors and attitudes, even after controlling for religious affiliation, political views and activism, and socio-demographic characteristics. The results indicate that the system of religious beliefs matters but not being religious per se. We find a role for beliefs that is separate from social capital accumulated via membership in church groups and church attendance. Finally, we make a methodological contribution by showing that the use of latent class analysis to describe systems of beliefs yields more meaningful interpretations than the standard approach of dummy variables for specific beliefs.

Keywords: culture, public goods, institutions, environment, latent class analysis

JEL Classification: H41, C4, Z12, Z13, Q5