Does Religiosity Affect Support for Political Compromise?

Abstract

Does heightened religious participation affect adherents' attitude toward political compromise? To address this question and overcome the potential simultaneity of religious participation and political attitudes, we exploit exogenous variation in the start date of the Selichot ("Forgiveness"), a period in which many Israeli Jews, including non-adherents, take part in an intense prayer schedule. Using a two-wave survey design, we find that intensified religiosity leads to the adoption of more hard-line positions against a land-for-peace compromise. Examining several potential mechanisms for this attitudinal shift, our evidence points to the impact of the intensified prayer period on adherents' tolerance for risk.

Keywords: Religiosity, Political Compromise, Israel

JEL Classification: Z12