Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP16030
Authors: Mauricio Drelichman; Jordi Vidal-Robert; Hans Joachim Voth
Abstract: Religious persecution is common in many countries around the globe. There is little evidence on its long-term effects. We collect new data from all across Spain, using information from over 67,000 trials held by the Spanish Inquisition between 1480 and 1820. This comprehensive new database allows us to demonstrate that municipalities of Spain with a history of stronger inquisitorial presence show lower economic performance, educational attainment, and trust today. The effects persist after controlling for historical indicators of religiosity and wealth, ruling out potential selection bias.
Keywords: Spanish Inquisition; Religious Persecution; Economic History
JEL Codes: N30
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Inquisitorial intensity (K40) | Economic performance (P17) |
| Inquisitorial intensity (K40) | Educational attainment (I21) |
| Inquisitorial intensity (K40) | Trust (G21) |