CInSt Research Seminar "Religiosity and life satisfaction in Russia: evidence from RLMS-HSE"

Speakers: Maksym Bryukhanov (CInSt HSE) , Igor Fedotenkov (CInSt HSE) 

Does religiosity make you happy? Many studies document positive associations between religiosity and various forms of subjective wellbeing. This is also true for general life satisfaction in normal economic conditions as well as in the case of economic shocks in transition. However, both life satisfaction and religiosity may be correlated with unobserved individual and household’s traits and unobserved life shocks, which can be related to reverse causality. These facts result in endogeneity and make OLS estimates biased. In our study, we employ two methods of accounting for possible endogeneity issues – we use fixed effects and instrumental variable estimations. Using RLMS-HSE data and different econometric models, we document positive associations between religiosity and life satisfaction. In particular, fixed effect and IV regressions provide evidence for a positive effect of religiosity. On the other hand, regional (PSU) fixed effects supply a note of caution in the IV regressions: unobserved socio-economic environment may influence both religiosity and life satisfaction. More robust techniques are left for future research.

Place: 4 Slavyanskaya Square, building 2, room 101-102.

Date and time: June 8, 2017, at 4 PM

Language: English

Free entrance.

If you don't have an HSE ID, please send your name and surname to lovakov@hse.ru before 13:00, June 8.