Economics prof Ron Warren of Georgia’s Terry College of Business conducted a study along with colleague Chris Cornwell and Terry alumna Karen Tinsley, a researcher in UGA’s Housing and Demographics Research Center.
They note that religious observance when young may give women a direction or “calling†to their personal conduct as adults, including a grea ter focus on market work. “Religious participation in childhood may instill a work ethic that is driven by early religious training, beliefs, or practice,†he says.
Researchers at the University of Georgia found that women who had attended religious services frequently (at least once a week) during childhood work about 80 additional hours per year when they are older. This effect is roughly equivalent to the impact on labor supply of an additional year of labor market experience.
Among Protestant women, the effect on annual hours worked of frequent religious participation when young is almost twice that amount.