Graduation Year
2023
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Mathematical Economics
Reader 1
Nayana Bose
Reader 2
Sean Flynn
Abstract
Religion has long been a subject that baffles economists because of its seemingly inefficient requirements. It is hard to get one's mind around why an individual would be willing to give up secular commodities for religion, or face the strict entry costs and stigma society associates with the religion. Although many reasons have been suggested, the most widely accepted solution to why we engage in these behaviors is Religious Signaling Theory (RST). RST argues that people engage in these ineffective costs as a way to signal their commitment to the religion, and religions were utilized by society to enforce these costs and to be the community whom the commitment will benefit.
Recommended Citation
Chin, Claudia R., "Heaven? Is it worth it?: The Effect of Belief on Religious Participation and Signaling" (2023). Scripps Senior Theses. 2197.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/2197
