Economics and Religion (The International Library of Critical Writings in Economics series, 167)

Facsimiles of 41 magazine articles and book chapters published between 1939 and 2002 consider the relationship between economic theory and religion. The first volume looks at the influence of Christian theology on the development of economic theory through such channels as Smith, Malthus, Chalmers, Christian socialism, Catholic social teaching, early American economics, and contemporary mainstream economics. The second volume begins with studies by modern Christian economists and their critics and quick glances at Islamic and Judaic economics. Then it explores contemporary topics such as household allocation of time and church attendance, purgatory as a market-pull innovation, and directly unproductive prophet-seeking activities. Only names are indexed, each volume separately. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)