Ökonomische Analyse der Religion

Religious activity can be aptly described and explained using a market model. The market for religion follows the same rules as the markets for non-religious goods. Religious information and the associated promises are not verifiable. As a result, religion meets the criteria of a credence good. In the case of credence goods, the demand side is always exposed to the risk of misinformation from providers. Thus, many components of religions primarily serve to enhance credibility by creating the impression that one is dealing with a serious provider of high-quality services. The market for religion can be efficiently shaped through a few deregulating measures and regulatory interventions.