Economics of religion

The economics of religion applies socio- economic theory and methods to explain the religious behaviour patterns of individuals, groups or cultures and the social consequences of such behavior. An example of the first is Adam Smith's analysis of the effect of competition and government regulation (or support) for religious denominations on the quantity and quality of religious services. An example of the second is Max Weber's thesis that the Protestant ethic promoted the rise of capitalism.

Religious (or theological) economics is a related subject sometimes overlapping or conflated with the economics of religion. It uses religious principles to evaluate economic perspectives or vice versa.