Impact of Religious Freedom on Corruption

Vilai Fotumoafulahi Ilolahia Jr. presented research examining the relationship between religious freedom and corruption. His study explored how religiosity — measured by factors such as frequency of religious service attendance, the perceived importance of God, and belief in heaven and hell — relates to levels of corruption across societies. While previous studies, including one by Gokcekus and Ekici in 2019, suggest that higher religiosity is associated with increased corruption regardless of religious affiliation, Ilolahia’s findings support this claim and indicate that religious freedom itself does not directly influence corruption levels. Instead, dominant religions within a country may shape corruption outcomes, according to Chase in 2010. Using regression models with control variables such as GDP per capita, political freedom, and economic freedom, the research also highlighted varying effects of different religious affiliations. This study contributes to understanding how religious structures and freedoms intersect with governance and institutional integrity, particularly in Asia, where religious identity often overlaps with ethnicity and is subject to centralized control.