The Clergy and Economists: Two Windows on Common Objectives

Abstract

Members of the clergy and economists form their understandings of the world by examining it through different windows. Yet, I argue that the differences between them, though important, are less than most believe. The social objectives of both are remarkably similar, even though their windows on the world suggest different approaches in achieving them. The differences in approaches also tend to get confused with differences in objectives. The hope motivating this article is that the clergy, by better understanding the economists’ approach, will see the similarities in their objectives and recognize that their approaches for achieving those objectives are complementary.