Religions Compete as Public‑Goods Platforms

Updated: 2025.08.25 1M ago 1 sources
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.

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Is religion actually declining in emerging economies?
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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