VoxDev 239d ago

Contrary to popular belief, economic development does not necessarily lead to secularisation. Instead, religion often adapts and persists, providing social support, identity, and stability amid uncertainty – while interacting dynamically with states, traditional beliefs, and evolving economic realities. In this episode of VoxDevTalks, Sara Lowes, Eduardo Montero, and Benjamin Marx explore how religion and economic development interact in emerging and developing regions. Challenging the idea that development inevitably leads to secular societies, they discuss why religiosity persists or changes, how faiths coexist with traditional beliefs, and the ways religious institutions shape social support, behaviour, and policy. Throughout, they emphasise that religion is dynamic – adapting to incentives, competition, and the state of local institutions. Read the full show notes here: https://voxdev.org/topic/institutions-political-economy/how-religion-shapes-economic-development