Why is the number of catholic priests diminishing in Portugal?. Analysis of the period 1960-2002

• Paulo R. MOURAO ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidade do Minho

     Universidade do Minho

     Braga (São José de São Lázaro), Portugal

     
• Localización: Estudios Economicos Regionales y Sectoriales : EERS: Regional and sectoral economic studies : RSES, ISSN 1578-4460, Vol. 6, Nº. 2, 2006, págs. 43-56
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This work aims at testing a large range of hypotheses that focus on the evidence of the diminishing number of catholic priests. The data are from the Portuguese reality observed between 1960 and 2002. These hypotheses are related to the recent socio-economic evolution verified in Portugal. As main findings, it is highlighted that the strongest long-term factor is the rate of fertility. The economic growth (suggested by the real GDP per capita) is not characterized by a significant coefficient.