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How Can You Be A Christian And An Economist? The Meaning Of The Accra Declaration For Today

Author

Listed:
  • Stan du Plessis

    (Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch)

Abstract

The Accra Declaration offers a narrowly ideological interpretation of the modern economy and proceeds to reject neoliberalism as the ideological foundation thereof. This article argues for a less ideological approach to public theology in its comment on the economy in a two-step argument. Firstly, Neoliberalsim is neither a coherent ideology nor a plausible historical narrative. Economists, who are the presumed architects of neoliberalism do not recognise the propositions attributed to them by either the Accra Declaration or the critical literature on Neoliberalism. Secondly, the Accra Declaration’s ideological framework causes it to misrepresent both the nature of modern economies and their objective results. An alternative, less ideological approach, would allow the Church to appreciate both the strengths and the many problems of market economies and would allow it to work with economists in resolving these, instead of rejecting the insights of modern economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Stan du Plessis, 2010. "How Can You Be A Christian And An Economist? The Meaning Of The Accra Declaration For Today," Working Papers 02/2010, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:sza:wpaper:wpapers101
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    File URL: https://www.ekon.sun.ac.za/wpapers/2010/wp022010/wp-02-2010.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2010
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    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Neoliberalism and the Church
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2010-03-25 19:47:00

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Accra declaration; Neoliberalism; Economics; Public theology; Market economies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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