The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Religion

This is a one-of-kind volume bringing together leading scholars in the economics of religion for the first time. The treatment of topics is interdisciplinary, comparative, as well as global in nature. Scholars apply the economics of religion approach to contemporary issues such as immigrants in the United States and ask historical questions such as why did Judaism as a religion promote investment in education? The economics of religion applies economic concepts (for example, supply and demand) and models of the market to the study of religion. Advocates of the economics of religion approach look at ways in which the religion market influences individual choices as well as institutional development. For example, economists would argue that when a large denomination declines, the religion is not supplying the right kind of religious good that appeals to the faithful. Like firms, religions compete and supply goods. The economics of religion approach using rational choice theory, assumes that all human beings, regardless of their cultural context, their socio-economic situation, act rationally to further his/her ends. The wide-ranging topics show the depth and breadth of the approach to the study of religion. Available in OSO: http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/oso/public/content/oho_economics/9780195390049/toc.html Contributors to this volume - Ran Abramitzky, Stanford University Robert J. Barro, Harvard University, senior fellow of the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Sascha O. Becker, University of Stirling, Scotland Maristella Botticini, Universita Bocconi in Milan and Fellow of the Center for Economic Policy Research (London) Feler Bose, Alma College Steve Bruce, University of Aberdeen Christopher D. Bader, Baylor University Zvi Eckstein, Bank of Israel and Tel Aviv University Roger Finke. Pennsylvania State University Anthony Gill, University of Washington Brian J. Grim, Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, Washington Robert F. Hebert, Auburn University Dan Hungerman, University of Noter Dame Laurence R. Iannaccone, Chapman University Murat Iyigun, University of Colorado at Boulder Todd M. Johnson, Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Evelyn L. Lehrer, University of Illinois, Chicago Rachel M. McCleary, Harvard University Alexander McQuoid, Colombia University Dan Olson, Purdue University Steven Pfaff, University of Washington Darren E. Sherkat, Southern Illinois University Robert D. Tollison, Clemson University Ludger Woessmann, University of Munich, Germany Robert D. Woodberry, University of Texas at Austin