Utility and the Unseen: Modelling the Determinants of Church Growth in Rural India
Abstract
By using a novel rational choice framework, this paper examines the causal effects of pastors on church growth in rural India. Utilising high-quality primary survey data from 559 Indian pastors, the analysis employs instrumental variable and multivariate regression techniques. This is the first economics paper focused outside the West to find evidence that the attributes of religious leaders help determine religious switching and the first to show a higher emphasis on supernatural experiences from religious leaders can cause faster church growth.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Religion
Society
and Development
Religion and Society Interactions
Culture
Economy
and Development Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Economics Management and Religion
- Volume
- 07
- Issue
- 01
- Publication date
- 16 January 2026
- Language
- EN