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Church government and religious participation

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  • Jason Wollschleger

Abstract

In this article religion is viewed as a collectively produced good. Religious groups must, therefore, overcome collective action problems, namely, coordination. This problem is usually alleviated by entering into an agency relationship with an organizer whose job is to ensure efficient production of religious goods. This will lead to an increase in participation from congregants and an increase in quality of the religious goods. However, this relationship is open to the principal–agent problem. Using data from the American Congregational Giving Study this paper finds that the organizational structure of religious groups makes some groups more susceptible to principal–agent problems, which ultimately impacts participation levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Wollschleger, 2013. "Church government and religious participation," Rationality and Society, , vol. 25(4), pages 470-488, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:25:y:2013:i:4:p:470-488
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463113504449
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anthony Gill, 1999. "Government Regulation, Social Anomie And Protestant Growth In Latin America," Rationality and Society, , vol. 11(3), pages 287-316, August.
    2. Eggertsson,Thrainn, 1990. "Economic Behavior and Institutions," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521348911.
    3. Iannaccone, Laurence R, 1992. "Sacrifice and Stigma: Reducing Free-Riding in Cults, Communes, and Other Collectives," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 100(2), pages 271-291, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jason Wollschleger, 2019. "Beyond strictness: Mainline protestant religious participation," Rationality and Society, , vol. 31(2), pages 182-203, May.

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