Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
CAFO Working Papers,
Linnaeus University, Centre for Labour Market Policy Research (CAFO), School of Business and Economics
No 2009:1: Is the Hand of God Involved in Human Cooperation? An Experimental Examination of the Supernatural Punishment Theory
Ali Ahmed () and Osvaldo Salas ()
Additional contact information
Ali Ahmed: Centre for Labour Market Policy Research (CAFO), Postal: Centre for Labour Market Policy Research (CAFO), Dept of Economics and Statistics, School of Management and Economics, Växjö University , SE 351 95 Växjö, Sweden
Osvaldo Salas: Centre for Labour Market Policy Research (CAFO), Postal: Centre for Labour Market Policy Research (CAFO), Dept of Economics and Statistics, School of Management and Economics, Växjö University , SE 351 95 Växjö, Sweden
Abstract: This paper examines the supernatural punishment theory. The theory postulates that religion increases cooperation because religious people fear the retributions that may follow if they do not follow the rules and norms provided by the religion. We report results for a public goods experiment conducted in India, Mexico, and Sweden. By asking participants whether they are religious or not, we study whether religiosity has an effect on voluntary cooperation in the public goods game. We found no significant behavioral differences between religious and nonreligious participants in the experiment.
Keywords: Games; Punishment theory; Experiments; Behavioural Economics; Religion
24 pages, March 10, 2008
Full text files
Nek_wp1_09.pdf
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