Contents:

1. Call for Papers: Faith and Economics special issue on "Economics and Christian Reflections on Globalization."

2. On-line resources in Catholic Social Thought, Catholic Social Thought Organizations, Business and Management Education, and Faith and Work issues

3. Association for the Study of Religion, Economics and Culture

4. Association for the Study of Religion, Economics and Culture conference, April 2009; call for papers

5. ACE 25th Anniversary Academic Conference

1. Call for Papers:
Faith and Economics special issue on
"Economics and Christian Reflections on Globalization."

Globalization is the process by which nations and local communities become more economically and culturally integrated by relatively unimpeded flows of people, capital, goods and services, and ideas. As the world has become increasingly integrated, the globe has come to resemble a single large economy, with few barriers to economic and cultural flows across international boundaries. Globalization has been praised as an engine of growth and development, and has been criticized as a destroyer of local culture and economy.

The world economy has become much more integrated over the last several decades, so globalization is no longer a startling new development; there is an ongoing Christian reflection on the topic. As far back as 1967, Pope Paul VI’s encyclical letter “On the Development of Peoples” encouraged newly developing nations to reflect carefully on the purpose of economic growth and the place of the human person in the economy. More recent reflections on the challenge of globalization include the Accra Confession of the World Association of Reformed Churches, the AGAPE process of the World Council of Churches, and a forthcoming encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI.

Faith & Economics will celebrate the publication of these recent church documents by publishing a set of essays on the economics of globalization and the Christian tradition. Although we do not want to needlessly narrow the range of approaches or topics of the essays, we are looking for contributions which bring the discipline of economics into conversation with Christian thinking on this question. The essays ought to address one or both of the following questions:

1. What are the central economic consequences of globalization that theologians should consider as they offer their reflections? Papers here can reflect on trade, migration, or flows of capital, with reference to their consequences for growth, changes in poverty and inequality, economic institutions, and overall standard of living. Of particular interest are papers that address published theological reflections from one or more Christian traditions. Though it is not necessary that a paper make a significant contribution to the economics of globalization per se, a deep and reflective knowledge of the relevant economics literature is required.

2. What are the challenges of theological reflections on globalization for economics? Do these reflections open up new lines of inquiry for economics, or new ways of doing economics? What can economists learn from the Christian traditions about how globalization affects persons and communities? Possible questions could include, but are not limited to, theological conditions for right economic relationships, the relationship between globalization and violence, ethnic and national identity, well-being, and community institutions. Papers that are in conversation with published theological reflections, but which are written for an audience of economists, are of particular interest.

ASREC (not affiliated with ACE, but potentially of interest to ACE members) manages the annual Religion, Economics and Culture October conferences in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Association, and also promotes a variety of other activities.

For further information, contact Larry Iannaccone or Carrie Miles (see below), or consult the organization's website.The organization operates in association with the George Mason University Center for the Economic Study of Religion.

Laurence R. Iannaccone
Koch Professor of Economics
George Mason University
Email: click here

Carrie A. Miles
Associate Director, Center for the Economic Study of Religion
George Mason University
Email: click here

4. Association for the Study of Religion, Economics and Culture Annual Meeting Call for Papers

Conference: April 3-5, 2009, Hyatt Regency, Crystal City (Washington DC)

Paper Proposals due September 15, 2008
Completed papers due March 1, 2009

Submit Proposals at www.ASREC.ORG

For each paper, please include title and an abstract of 200 words or less.  For each person, please supply name, institutional affiliation, e-mail, phone number, and mailing address.  Preliminary drafts are welcomed, especially from those new to ASREC.

Research is welcome on a broad range of topics in the social-scientific study of religion.  Proposals concerning the following topics are especially welcome::

• Religious markets, competition, monopoly, and regulation
• Economic growth, development, poverty, and inequality
• Social networks, and social/spiritual/religious capital
• Beliefs, attitudes, doctrines, norms, and values
• Institutions, organizations, congregations, and denominations
• Collective action, club goods, and social movements
• Extremism, conflict, and religious persecution
• Religious or social trends, growth, and decline
• Conversion, switching, proselytizing, and the marketing of religion
• Religious participation, attendance, and commitment
• Religious giving, philanthropy, and church finances
• Demography, fertility, family, marriage, and gender
• Education, human capital, health, and happiness
• Race, ethnicity, and discrimination
• Politics, public choice/finance, church-state issues, and the law
• Economic theory, game theory, and statistical methods
• Experimental methods, simulation studies, and computational methods
• Neuroscience and evolutionary theory
• Sects, cults, New Religious Movements, and non-western religions

5. ACE 25th Anniversary Conference

"Association of Christian Economists: The Next 25 Years"

April 16-18, 2009

Baylor University, Waco, Texas

This conference is organized by the Association around three themes: Faithful Economics, The Economics of Religion, and Heterodoxy. Plenary speakers, a plenary panel discussion, and concurrent paper sessions are offered under all three themes. For full details, please consult the conference website at http://www.baylor.edu/ifl/aceconference.