The influence of religiosity on charitable behavior: A COPPS investigation

We examine the role of religion in charitable giving and find that the religious preference of both the donor and the recipient organization influence giving behavior. By exploiting a panel survey of charitable giving, we demonstrate that traditional empirical analysis on charitable giving masks important differences among donor groups. Religious giving by religious individuals is least responsive to changes in price and income, while secular giving by secular individuals has the greatest sensitivity.

► We use panel data to compare the response of giving to price and income changes across household religiosity.
► We demonstrate that traditional empirical analysis on charitable giving masks important differences among donor groups.
► Religious giving by religious individuals is least responsive to changes in price and income.
► Secular giving by secular individuals has the greatest sensitivity to changes in price and income.