Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/214600 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
CREMA Working Paper No. 2017-07
Publisher: 
Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA), Zürich
Abstract: 
The importance of culture for human behavior is well established in the economic literature. So far, most authors have emphasized the long persistence of cultural traits. In contrast, this paper deals with an important case of a rapid update of culturally rooted beliefs and behavior. Using a newly composed historical dataset (1919-1984), this paper provides evidence that the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) had a rapid effect on Catholics' voting behavior pertaining to female enfranchisement in Switzerland. In various difference-in-differences settings, the Second Vatican Council turns out to increase the acceptance of women's suffrage in Catholic municipalities, when compared to Protestant municipalities.
Subjects: 
Catholic Church
Second Vatican Council
rapid cultural change
female enfranchisement
JEL: 
N34
Z12
D72
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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