Economic Analysis and Organised Religion

Schlicht, Ekkehart (1995): Economic Analysis and Organised Religion. In: Reynolds, Vernon and Jones, Eric (eds.) : (1995): Survival and Religion: Biological Evolution and Cultural Change. Chichester: John Wiley. pp. 111-162

Abstract

This chapter analyses some phenomena in organized religion from the point of view of economics. It is argued that religious activity derives from the individual's quest for sense and justification that molds institutional and other features of religious activity, as brought about by competitive forces. The underlying concern regards the interrelation of economic and cultural processes.

• Item Type: Book Section
• Journal or Publication Title: Vernon Reynolds and Eric Jones (eds.), Survival and Religion: Biological Evolution and Cultural Change, Chichester: John Wiley
• Keywords: economics of religion, division of labor, institutional economics, culture and economics
• Faculties: Economics > Chairs > Chair of Institutional Economics (closed); Economics
• Subjects: 300 Social sciences > 300 Social sciences, sociology and anthropology; 300 Social sciences > 330 Economics
• JEL Classification: Z12, L30, L89, D02
• Place of Publication: Chichester
• Language: English