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Adam Smith On Competitive Religious Markets: Preaching About Preachers?, Charles G. Leathers, J. Patrick Raines
Adam Smith On Competitive Religious Markets: Preaching About Preachers?, Charles G. Leathers, J. Patrick Raines
Robins School of Business White Paper Series, 1980-2022
Anderson (1988) and Rosenberg (1960) have provided substantial insights into Adam Smith's economic analysis of religious behavior. In particular, both emphasized Smith's optimistic view of competitive religious markets. As an addendum, this paper investigates more closely the theoretical basis for Smith's prediction that optimal religious doctrine and institutions would spontaneously evolve in free markets for preachers.