A cross-national investigation into the effects of religion on national innovation

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing the effects of religion on national innovation. Using data from 77 countries, we conduct a cross-national investigation into the effects of religiosity, religious affiliations, religious fractionalization (religious diversity), and communist heritage on the national innovation capability. The analyses show that religiosity has a significantly negative association with the national innovation capability even after controlling for the effects of socioeconomic development. Further analyses show that Protestant and Buddhist affiliations are positively while communist heritage is negatively associated with national innovation capability. The analyses do not show any significant relationships between religious fractionalization and national innovation capability. In the end, the findings are discussed, and avenues for future research are pointed out.