The 1918 flu pandemic made some people more religious, and others, more innovative.

Enrico Berkes, Davide Coluccia, Gaia Dossi and Mara Squicciarini investigate whether a destructive event - such as a pandemic - leads to either an increase in religiosity or a boost in innovation efforts. They find that both reactions can occur at the same time, and that people in countries more affected by the 1918 flu pandemic become both more religious and more innovative.

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Enrico Berkes, Davide M. Coluccia, Gaia Dossi and Mara P. Squicciarini

24 May 2023

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LSE USAPP

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https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2023/05/24/the-1918-flu-pandemic-made-some-people-more-religious-and-others-more-innovative/

This work is published under POID and the CEP's Growth programme.