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Calvin's Reformation in Geneva: Self and Social Signalling
Author(s) -
LEVY GILAT,
RAZIN RONNY
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of public economic theory
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1467-9779
pISSN - 1097-3923
DOI - 10.1111/jpet.12072
Subject(s) - incentive , predestination , signalling , institution , affect (linguistics) , economics , law and economics , social psychology , microeconomics , positive economics , sociology , psychology , epistemology , philosophy , social science , communication
As Weber ([WEBER, M., 1904]) recognized, Calvinistic beliefs about predestination may constitute a powerful incentive for good works; an individual wishes to receive assurances about her future prospects of salvation, and good works may provide a positive signal about such prospects. These beliefs can in turn create a social pressure to behave well, as good works can also signal to others that individuals belong to the “elect” and are therefore likely to behave well in social interactions. Moreover, the Consistory, an institution created by Calvin to monitor and publicize individuals' behavior, can allow for such social signalling. We analyze these self and social signalling incentives, and show how religions affect levels of cooperation and coordination.