Religion and animal welfare: Evidence from voting data

In November 2002, Florida residents voted on a ballot proposal limiting farming practices that are deemed cruel to pigs. Using county level data, models of support for the proposal are estimated, paying particular attention to the influence of religion. Although the rate of adherents to Catholicism and evangelical denominations are statistically and economically relevant to explain support for the ban, political preferences and socio-economic factors are more important in terms of substantive significance than religious affiliation.