The Association of Christian Economists

An Academic Society for Christians in the Economics Profession

  • Home
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • 2023 ACE Conference
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Archives
  • Podcast
  • Membership
    • My Account
    • Join ACE
  • Log In

Faith & Economics – Spring 2019

Faith & Economics
Number 73 Spring 2019

Articles

Markets and Prophets: An Examination of the Silver Hypothesis
John Lunn and Barry Bandstra

Abstract: We examine a hypothesis by the economic historian, Morris Silver, concerning the role of the prophets in Ancient Israel. Based on a model he developed earlier, Silver speculates that the Hebrew prophets such as Amos and Isaiah were heeded by the government, there was land reform and a movement away from international trade and specialization. The result was a weaker economy and ultimately the destruction of both Israel and Judah as independent nations. Silver utilizes a model he developed relating affluence and altruism, leading to government attempts to benefit the poor. However, the actions only weakened the economy and made the poor worse off. We examine the Hebrew Scriptures, archaeological data and the work of biblical scholars to determine whether Silver’s hypothesis can be supported or refuted. We also examine the model he used as well as other models used by biblical scholars, and argue the models are being used to create data and facts rather than let data support or refute hypotheses.

Key Words: Ancient Israel; altruism; biblical prophets; social science models

The Cost of Being Faithful: What do Farmers Give Up to Keep the Sabbath?
Britney Rosburg, Terry W. Griffin, and Brian Coffey

Abstract: Judeo-Christian beliefs and tradition include observing a Sabbath, or day of rest, by abstaining from work one day each week. In modern times, followers of the Jewish faith mark the Sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening and Christians do so on Sunday. For both groups, this practice is firmly entrenched to the point that many contend that working on Sunday is morally wrong. For many Christian workers in the United States, this practice often fits with their work schedule as Saturday and Sunday are typical days off doe many schools, government organizations, and businesses. There are exceptions to this and farmers are one of the most obvious. The demands of managing a farm do not conform to uniform weekly work schedules. To meet labor requirements, many Americans family farms rely upon unpaid family labor to perform tasks such as conducting field operations. Reliance on unpaid labor is becoming more prevalent due to lack of available laborers in many locations in the United States. A whole-farm linear programming model was parameterized as a limited resource Midwestern USA crop-producing farm. Model results estimate the costs of shutting down farm operations for differing levels of Sabbath observation across peak and non-peak seasonal time periods. Results indicate substantial costs are likely to occur, indicating that Sabbath-observing farm operators must perceive at least a base level of perceived benefits. These results are of interest to multi-generational farms attempting to balance work-life issues, researchers evaluating economics of religion, and rural development labor economists studying impacts of decaying populations on rural communities.

Keywords: whole-farm planning; limited resource farms; labor; religion; network; community

Symposium

The Language of Utilitarianism in Economics and the Public Square
Sarah Hamersma

Moral Tribes and Moral Concerns in Public Policy
Ngina Chiteji

Book Reviews

Counting the Cost: Christian Perspectives on Capitalism
Art Lindsley and Anne Bradley
Reviewed by Roger B. Conover

Return to Order
John Horvat II
Reviewed by Kristen Cooper

The Tyranny of Metrics
Jerry Z. Muller
Reviewed by Jamin Hübner

Why Liberalism Failed
Patrick Deneen
Reviewed by Steven McMullen

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Print
July 25, 2019

Post navigation

Spring 2019 Issue now Available → ← Review of: Why Liberalism Failed – McMullen

Journal and Website Search

Browse Recent Articles

Review of A Sacred Journey: Faithful Presence in the Secular Academy

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofA Sacred Journey: Faithful Presence in the Secular AcademyPaul Nicholas Wilson Reviewed by Andrew HansenAnselm House Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of Pricing Lives: Guideposts for a Safer Society

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofPricing Lives: Guideposts for a Safer Societyby W. Kip Viscusi Reviewed by Matthew P. ForsstromWheaton College Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of Political Economy as Natural Theology: Smith, Malthus, and Their Followers

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofPolitical Economy as Natural Theology: Smith, Malthus, and Their Followersby Paul Oslington Reviewed by Christina McRorieCreighton University [...]

More Info

Review of Capital and Ideology

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review ofCapital and Ideologyby Thomas Piketty Reviewed by Jamin HübnerUniversity of the PeopleLCC International University PDF Full Text

More Info

Review of Causal Inference: The Mixtape

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Review of Causal Inference: The MixtapeBy Scott Cunningham Reviewed by Sarah HamersmaSyracuse University Full Text PDF

More Info

The Lost Sheep, God’s Body and Housing – Renewing Hearts and Minds into Renewed Communities

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 The Lost Sheep, God’s Body and Housing – Renewing Hearts and Minds into Renewed Communities Virginia BeardHope College Abstract: Home is part of what [...]

More Info

Economic and Environmental Religion: The Work of Robert H. Nelson

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Economic and Environmental Religion: The Work of Robert H. Nelson Paul OslingtonAlphacrucis College Abstract: This article contextualizes and assesses [...]

More Info

Liberation Theology and Development Economics: Unlikely Allies?

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 78, Fall 2021 Liberation Theology and Development Economics: Unlikely Allies? Annette Davis and Christina McRorieCreighton University Abstract: This article proposes [...]

More Info

Feedback

Any questions or feedback regarding site content or your membership account can be sent to the ACE webmaster.

Navigation

  • My Account
    • Membership Billing
    • Membership Cancel
    • Membership Checkout
    • Membership Confirmation
    • Membership Invoice
    • Join ACE
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Archives
    • Instructions for Authors
  • Membership
  • Home
  • Archives – Old Issues
  • Podcast
  • 2023 ACE Conference

Connect with ACE

Powered by WordPress | theme SG Double