In one of the only studies of its kind, experts at Xiamen University in China examined the aftermath of events in the Yellow River flooding Region, particularly on culture and religion.
The study looked at the impact of natural disasters on cultural variables such as gender norm, religious beliefs, and trust. The results were publicized in China Economic Quarterly International.
“In this paper, we tried to investigate the impact of natural calamity on the cultural formation by a case study of Yellow River flooding region (YRFR),” the study reads.
“Using national population censuses and Chinese General Social Survey data and the regression discontinuity design, we estimated the influence of YRFR on the formation of cultures, including gender norms, religious beliefs, and trust.”
In the study, it was found that inner YRFR inhabitants were more likely to prefer males than females, believed in domestic religions, and had a lack of trust in others.
The impacts from the natural disaster involved formation and evolution of culture and institutions, in which gender norms, trust, and religious beliefs are affected.
The results concluded that natural disasters may lead to a rise in discrimination.
