In the United States, religious attendance rises sharply with education across individuals, but religious attendance … declines sharply with education across denominations. This puzzle is explained if education both increases the returns to … social connection and reduces the extent of religious belief. The positive effect of education on sociability explains the …

use historical factors like education in 1928 or Congregationalism in 1890, as instruments for the level of schooling … political outcomes occurs because more education improves political institutions …