Belief in hell boosts economic growth

[Dover]

Belief in hell boosts economic growth
By Alister Bull

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis in the United States.

Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to explain differences in national prosperity.

The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35 countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.

"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.

For instance, 71 percent of the U.S. population believe in hell and the country boasts the world's highest per capita income, according to the 2003 United Nations Human Development Report and 1990-1993 World Values Survey....cont'd >

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/040727/3/3m05w.html

[LiberalVoice]

1. And they say religion doesn't make people good little worker bee's...eom

[allalone]

2. o kayyy

Isn't Mexico mostly Catholic? Don't Catholics believe in hell? (yes, I am one). So is Mexico rich and not corrupt?

[WindRavenX]

3. Less corrupt?

Explain Enron and most of the US corporations.
This is BS.

[Moderator]

4. Duplicate

Please go here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=712083