BS Economics

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Religiosity and Economics:
(2000) San Andres, Emmanuel A.
Religious behaviour pervades a significant part of human life, but is largely ignored in economic literature. This paper attempts to give an economic insight into religion by using an economic framework to explain religious behaviour and participation. It does not attempt to give an opinion or stand as to the philosophical and theological truths found in religion, but rather concentrates on the factors affecting religious behaviour. This paper incorporates insights and data from economists, anthropologists, psychologists, sociologists, and of various religions to come up with a general and comprehensive economic view of religion. It suggests two ways of looking at religion-as a utility-giving commodity, which is the prevailing notion in previous economic literature on the subject; and in the context of Spence-type market signaling games. These views are then melded into the unified view that incorporates all the insights of previous literature on religion, but is limited by the fact that religion is very much a subjective issue. This paper, in the end, is another voice trying to make sense of this aspect of human life that deals with the ethereal and mysterious--religion.