Faithonomics: Religion 2024 and the Free Market by Brekke, Torkel NEUF

Product Name: Faithonomics: Religion 2024 and the Free Market by Brekke, Torkel NEUF
EAN：9781849046367 UPC：9781849046367 ISBN：9781849046367 MPN：N/A 2024 Format：Hardback, 256 pages
Faithonomics uses economic theory to provide a new and unorthodox view of religion in todays world. Drawing on state-of-the-art research and on case studies from around the globe, this book shows that religion should be analysed as a market similar to markets for other goods and services, like bottled water or haircuts. Faithonomics is about todays religious markets, but in sweeping detours through the histories of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, Brekke shows us the religious markets of the past, although these were sometimes heavily regulated by states. He argues that government control over religious markets is often the cause of unforeseen and negative consequences. Many of todays problems related to religion, like religious terrorism or rent-seeking by religious political parties, are easier to understand if we think like economists. Religious markets work best when they are relatively free. Religious organisations should be free to sell their products without unnecessary restrictions, but we have no good reason to grant them privileges in the form of subsidies or tax-breaks..