Review of Divine Economics Framework

Abstract

The primary research aim of the Divine Economics framework is to provide an empirical basis of behavioral comparison between religious and non-religious agents with regards to their economic and non-economic choices. Divine Economics framework is an effort to establish cross communication between mainstream economists and faith-inspired economists by using an appropriate and universal methodological framework, which is sufficiently scientific, objective and broadly agreeable in academics. Divine Economics framework endogenizes religious attributes which may potentially enable the comparison of choices between religious and non-religious as well as less-religious and more religious economic agents. However, reliance on stated preferences, overlap between religious and non-religious activities, inability to observe the motivation and intention behind choices and to judge the quality of religious activities are some of the challenges in this research framework. In the future research, Divine Economics framework could incorporate how faithful economic agents use common property resources and public goods. It can explore whether the faithful economic agents differ in their choices with regards to biodiversity and negative externalities. Lastly, the future research in Divine Economics framework can also explore whether faithful economic agents differ in their willingness to pay for public goods, environmental protection programs, animal protection programs, social protection programs and other voluntary welfare activities.