In Marketplace of the Gods, award-winning journalist Larry Witham tells the inside story of the ground-breaking--and controversial--"economic approach" to religion, a story rich with history, contemporary thought, and the colorful people who are using economic ideas to solve the puzzles of our...

Chapter 1. Defining Religion -- Chapter 2. An Illusion, A Capability, A Tendency; Formation of Groups and the Encounter with Gods -- Chapter 3. Exchange with Nature and with Gods: License to Exploit -- Chapter 4. Exchange amongst Humans; Divine Supervision -- Chapter 5. Exchange amongst Humans:...

"Does anyone have a monopoly on God? Can religion be bought or sold? Why do we pay priests? How do we limit religious conflicts? And should states get involved in matters of faith? "Faithonomics" shows that religion should be analyzed as a market similar to those for other goods and services,...

Bruno S. Frey illustrates what he perceives to be the inspirational quality of economics and how this differs from the type of economics studied in many academic institutions. He introduces insights into economics from a psychological perspective, dealing with issues such as transformation of...