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The Wealth of Religions: The Political Economy of Believing and Belonging
How religious beliefs and practices can influence the wealth of nations
Which countries grow faster economically―those with strong beliefs in heaven and hell or those with weak beliefs in them? Does religious participation matter? Why do some countries experience secularization while others are religiously vibrant? In The Wealth of Religions , Rachel McCleary and Robert Barro draw on their long record of pioneering research to examine these and many other aspects of the economics of religion. Places with firm beliefs in heaven and hell measured relative to the time spent in religious activities tend to be more productive and experience faster growth. Going further, there are two directions of religiosity influences economic performance and economic development affects religiosity. Dimensions of economic development―such as urbanization, education, health, and fertility―matter too, interacting differently with religiosity. State regulation and subsidization of religion also play a role.
The Wealth of Religions addresses the effects of religious beliefs on character traits such as work ethic, thrift, and honesty; the Protestant Reformation and its long-term effects on education and religious competition; Communism’s suppression of and competition with religion; the effects of Islamic laws and regulations on the functioning of markets and, hence, on the long-term development of Muslim countries; why some countries have state religions; analogies between religious groups and terrorist organizations; the violent origins of the Dalai Lama’s brand of Tibetan Buddhism; and the use by the Catholic Church of saint-making as a way to compete against the rise of Protestant Evangelicals.
Timely and incisive, The Wealth of Religions provides fresh insights into the vital interplay between religion, markets, and economic development.
Which countries grow faster economically―those with strong beliefs in heaven and hell or those with weak beliefs in them? Does religious participation matter? Why do some countries experience secularization while others are religiously vibrant? In The Wealth of Religions , Rachel McCleary and Robert Barro draw on their long record of pioneering research to examine these and many other aspects of the economics of religion. Places with firm beliefs in heaven and hell measured relative to the time spent in religious activities tend to be more productive and experience faster growth. Going further, there are two directions of religiosity influences economic performance and economic development affects religiosity. Dimensions of economic development―such as urbanization, education, health, and fertility―matter too, interacting differently with religiosity. State regulation and subsidization of religion also play a role.
The Wealth of Religions addresses the effects of religious beliefs on character traits such as work ethic, thrift, and honesty; the Protestant Reformation and its long-term effects on education and religious competition; Communism’s suppression of and competition with religion; the effects of Islamic laws and regulations on the functioning of markets and, hence, on the long-term development of Muslim countries; why some countries have state religions; analogies between religious groups and terrorist organizations; the violent origins of the Dalai Lama’s brand of Tibetan Buddhism; and the use by the Catholic Church of saint-making as a way to compete against the rise of Protestant Evangelicals.
Timely and incisive, The Wealth of Religions provides fresh insights into the vital interplay between religion, markets, and economic development.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2019
18 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 15, 2024
Religia luată ca un bun economic.
Credința populației in rai sau iad este direct proporțională cu creșterea economică iar participarea la activității religioase este invers proporțională.
Credința populației in rai sau iad este direct proporțională cu creșterea economică iar participarea la activității religioase este invers proporțională.
January 31, 2020
This is an insightful book on the link between religion, the economy, and capitalism. It is from the point of view of social scientists, and their perspective and research manage to shed light on various trends and issues surrounding faith and religion both in the United States as well as abroad.
The book also gives us brief historical backgrounds on various developments, for instance, theories on why Islam, though initially advanced and progressive in science and economy, began to stagnate in those areas, and how religious beliefs propelled literacy and capitalism in the West, especially during the Industrial Revolution.
For those interested in economics, religion, and history, this book will provide many interesting tidbits of knowledge and information. At the same time, it is a very timely and relevant topic that many more, regardless of their faith or ideology, need and ought to read about!
The book also gives us brief historical backgrounds on various developments, for instance, theories on why Islam, though initially advanced and progressive in science and economy, began to stagnate in those areas, and how religious beliefs propelled literacy and capitalism in the West, especially during the Industrial Revolution.
For those interested in economics, religion, and history, this book will provide many interesting tidbits of knowledge and information. At the same time, it is a very timely and relevant topic that many more, regardless of their faith or ideology, need and ought to read about!
January 2, 2022
Could be a 4-stars, but maybe my expectations were too high. There are some compelling ideas scattered through the book, and definitely some remarkable insights. However, I missed a bit more on the interplay between religious institutions and economic growth. The focus is mostly on individual believes, and their effect on economic performance. I think that on their way they oversee the relevance of religion as a cultural marker.
June 3, 2022
Great concept but dull writing.
July 5, 2022
very commonsensical, repeats but omits important soc of religion works
December 29, 2025
Es un libro interesante aunque no diría que este análisis merezca un libro entero (bien pudo ser un artículo de revista).
Me gustó que el enfoque se centre en las creencias individuales, aunque le faltó una mirada más amplia sobre la evolución de las instituciones religiosas y cómo estas impactaron las leyes y la percepción de la economía (al final la religión es una institución normativa).
El análisis está muy orientado al catolicismo (algo que se “spoilea” desde el inicio al apoyarse en la lectura de Weber sobre la ética protestante) y deja en segundo plano otras tradiciones, como el Islam, que apenas aparece mencionado.
Mis capítulos favoritos fueron el 5 y el 7: ofrecen síntesis breves y útiles de la liturgia católica y las conectan con teorías sociológicas sobre la importancia de los rituales (como las de Durkheim). Admito que esta preferencia viene de mi formación secular, fuera del ámbito religioso.
Lo que menos me convenció fue el uso del marco costo/beneficio de la economía neoclásica para explicar fenómenos religiosos. Me deja la duda: ¿realmente podemos llamar “mercado” a todo?
En resumen, es un libro con una propuesta sugerente, pero limitada por su propio marco conceptual. Aun así, vale la pena si te interesan las intersecciones entre religión y ciencias sociales, especialmente desde una perspectiva centrada en el catolicismo.
Me gustó que el enfoque se centre en las creencias individuales, aunque le faltó una mirada más amplia sobre la evolución de las instituciones religiosas y cómo estas impactaron las leyes y la percepción de la economía (al final la religión es una institución normativa).
El análisis está muy orientado al catolicismo (algo que se “spoilea” desde el inicio al apoyarse en la lectura de Weber sobre la ética protestante) y deja en segundo plano otras tradiciones, como el Islam, que apenas aparece mencionado.
Mis capítulos favoritos fueron el 5 y el 7: ofrecen síntesis breves y útiles de la liturgia católica y las conectan con teorías sociológicas sobre la importancia de los rituales (como las de Durkheim). Admito que esta preferencia viene de mi formación secular, fuera del ámbito religioso.
Lo que menos me convenció fue el uso del marco costo/beneficio de la economía neoclásica para explicar fenómenos religiosos. Me deja la duda: ¿realmente podemos llamar “mercado” a todo?
En resumen, es un libro con una propuesta sugerente, pero limitada por su propio marco conceptual. Aun así, vale la pena si te interesan las intersecciones entre religión y ciencias sociales, especialmente desde una perspectiva centrada en el catolicismo.
August 16, 2025
Expectation was high from this. Therefore disappointed. Having a book on a topic like this is a good thing in itself. But as usual Eurocentricism was so obvious in this book that for an average Indian reader like me it became boring.
Whatever, the authors have written on eastern religions looks felt like more of superficial knowledge than deeper understanding.
World is not Europe or west only. If you want to write something like what you have done in this book then change the title to "Wealth of Abrahamic religions" so that readers won't get confused.
Whatever, the authors have written on eastern religions looks felt like more of superficial knowledge than deeper understanding.
World is not Europe or west only. If you want to write something like what you have done in this book then change the title to "Wealth of Abrahamic religions" so that readers won't get confused.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews