Economics of Religion

Harvard FAS

The social-science approach to religion seeks to explain how religions evolve, make us richer or poorer, and influence the daily lives of people around the world. A controversial, but useful, approach views organized religion as a market in which alternative religions and non-religion compete for customer business. This perspective helps to understand Adam Smith’s idea that the vibrancy of religion is affected by state regulation and the presence of a state religion. We can also consider…