The Influence of Religion on Economic Status

1
The Influence of Religion on Economic Status

• Danielle Robey
• The University of Iowa
• Fall 2008

2
Data Sample

• General Social Survey 1972-2006
• Trends
• Sample size (n 1500)
• Administration every 2 years
• Compare respondents religious preference to
  levels of income

3
Re-Coding

• Protestant (1) Jewish (2) Catholic (3)
• Protestant- 778 persons, Catholic- 369 persons
• Correlates with
• Webers Protestant
• Religion correlation
• With SES status

4
Data Analysis Strategies

• Total Family income in fall of 2005
• Controlled for gender, race, and educational
  attainment
• 95 confidence level
• Null hypothesis- no difference among religious
  preferences as to an individuals income level

5
Results

• Religious preference without re-coding- no
  stratification
• After re-coding religion- F2.706 Sig. .044-
  Accept research hypothesis

6
Results

• Gender
• Females- no stratification
• Males- great deal of stratification
• Education- no impact
• Race
• Minority- no stratification
• Whites- separation in income levels

7
Implications

• Bourgeoisie- white males, achieve a great deal of
  prestige, education, and higher income levels
• White, male, Protestants are most likely to make
  more money according to the research Webers
  findings

8
Whats the Future hold?

• White, male, protestant elites will make more
  money
• Minority overtaking?
• What is religion doing?
• Equality should be determined by class not a group

9
Citations

• http//adultstemcellawareness.files.wordpress.com/
  2008/03/money.jpg
• http//z.about.com/d/graphicssoft/1/5/b/s/4/Christ
  ianBrushes-Crosses.gif
• Max Weber Protestant Ethic