In many developing countries, religiosity isn’t fading; it’s adapting. Churches, mosques, and temples act like platforms that deliver welfare, education, and coordination, especially where states are weak and incomes are volatile.
— Seeing religion as a service‑providing platform reshapes development, governance, and election analysis in places where formal institutions underperform.
Tyler Cowen
2025.08.25
100% relevant
Lowes, Marx, and Montero’s NBER paper argues religious institutions in emerging economies are politically influential public‑goods providers in pluralistic marketplaces, with demand sustained by income volatility and financial insecurity.
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