@article{Levy:90904,
      recid = {90904},
      author = {Levy, Gilat and Razin, Ronny},
      title = {Religious Organizations},
      address = {2010-06},
      number = {831-2016-55354},
      series = {GC},
      pages = {35},
      year = {2010},
      abstract = {We propose a model of religious organizations which relies  on the ability of such organizations and personal utility  shocks. We show how religious organizations arise  endogenously and characterize their features. Specifically,  we find that members of the religious organization share  similar beliefs and are more likely to cooperate with one  another in social interactions. We identify a "spiritual"  as well as a "material" payoff for members of the religious  organization. Our results explain and shed light on  empirical phenomena such as the effects of secularization  and economic development on religious beliefs and  participation, the relation between the size of the  religion and the intensity of its members’ beliefs,  religious segregation and religious conflicts.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/90904},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.90904},
}