Religion and the Wealth of Nations after 250 Years

Sascha Becker

The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) from University of Warwick, Department of Economics

Abstract: This chapter explores the intersection of religion and economics on the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, first published in 1776. While Smith is often viewed as a secular figure in economics, his work was deeply influenced by the moral philosophy of his time, which was shaped by Christian thought. I discuss how economists think about the religious themes in Smith’s work in the 21st century and review what we know today about the connection between religion and economic outcomes. JEL codes: B1 ; B2 ; N3 ; N9 ; P5 ; Z12

Keywords: Adam Smith; religion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gro, nep-his and nep-hpe
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https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/w ... werp_1598-becker.pdf

Related works:
Working Paper: Religion and the Wealth of Nations after 250 Years (2026)
Working Paper: Religion and the Wealth of Nations After 250 Years (2026)
Working Paper: Religion and the Wealth of Nations after 250 Years (2026)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wrk:warwec:1598

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