PowerpointPresentati onbyTheodoreRoosevel tMalloch

FREE TO CHOOSE: Linking Economics and Religion: 

FREE TO CHOOSE: Linking Economics and Religion Theodore Roosevelt Malloch, PhD Founder andamp; Chairman Spiritual Enterprise Institute trmalloch@spiritualenterprise.org

Slide2: 

COMPETITION

Slide3: 

In the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The freedom of religion is defined as:: 

The freedom of religion is defined as: 'Everyone, including women and children, have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.'

The Cornerstones of Economic Freedom are: : 

The Cornerstones of Economic Freedom are: personal choice rather than collective action; voluntary exchange coordinated by markets rather than allocation via the political process; freedom to enter and compete in markets; and protection of persons and their property from aggression or harm by others

Slide6: 

Agreement that … the size, expenditures, and taxes of government, and the right to enterprise formation along with the legal structure and security of property rights are most essential to economic flourishing. Access to sound money and transparent capital markets, freedom to trade internationally and minimal regulation of credit, labor, and business, also count a great deal

Slide7: 

Enterprise flourishes as a result of the protection of both the rule of law and enforced codes of business

Slide8: 

Business law and capital market access are twin pillars that allow entrepreneurs the freedom to start businesses, merge businesses and sell businesses in freedom and without political interference or undue regulation

THE RESEARCH QUESTION ? : 

THE RESEARCH QUESTION ? Do those countries with the greatest degree of religious liberty also exhibit the greatest measure of economic freedom?

Slide10: 

Entrepreneurs benefit themselves, their companies, employees, shareholders, consumers, stakeholders and the entire community by growing enterprises as engines of development

Slide11: 

The corollary, namely, that religious liberty begets economic freedom is now provable

Slide12: 

If we desire more economic freedom we need to begin by insuring religious liberty If you want economic growth and development, we need to tolerate and permit religious groups and persons to do as they choose

Slide13: 

Competition for religious activity is as healthy as for economic activity

Why? : 

Why? It circles back to the link between religious and economic freedom

Spiritual capital is in a sense that missing link : 

Spiritual capital is in a sense that missing link Lord Keynes, once remarked that for centuries we have kept religion and business in 'different compartments of the soul'. By breaking those divisions apart and seeing their connection we overcome one of the dilemmas of modernity

For economic growth to take place : 

For economic growth to take place CAPITAL is necessary

Slide17: 

MONEY buys tools, pays labor, and builds infrastructure. To this is added human capital, mostly in the form of education and personal betterment But for countries / economies to make efficient use of their reserves, spiritual capital is also required

Slide18: 

In the 21st century … the abiding question may well be for an integrated global economy and a world of increasingly democratic political systems:

Slide19: 

Does your religious liberty match your economic freedom and vice versa? If not, why not? And if so, how so?

Slide20: 

Closed religious systems foul economic development and stunt growth Closed economic systems are unkind or worse to religious sentiments and practice

Slide21: 

You need both to sustain human flourishing

Slide22: 

The countries with the least religious liberty also suffer the worst economic freedoms and are lacking in political rights

Who are they? Let’s name names: : 

Who are they? Let’s name names:

Slide24: 

1. Burma

Slide25: 

2. China-Tibet

Slide26: 

3. Eritrea

Slide27: 

4. Iran

Slide28: 

5. Iraq

Slide29: 

6. Maldives

Slide30: 

7. North Korea

Slide31: 

8. Saudi Arabia

Slide32: 

9. Sudan

Slide33: 

10. Turkmenistan

Slide34: 

11.Uzbekistan

But following not far behind are: : 

But following not far behind are: Afghanistan Bangladesh Belarus China Cuba Mauritania Pakistan Palestine Vietnam

When you look at religious freedom & economic freedom : 

When you look at religious freedom andamp; economic freedom in comparison to civil liberties ratings a number of countries pop out as especially problematic and include: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Serbia, and Turkey

Slide37: 

When compared to overall religious libery ratings, another country sticks out as far worse, Kosovo

Slide38: 

So what are the implications then?

* For companies? : 

* For companies?

* For governments? : 

* For governments?

* For the international financial institutions? : 

* For the international financial institutions?

*For Capital Markets?: 

*For Capital Markets?

* For trading regimes? : 

* For trading regimes?

* For civil societies around the world? : 

* For civil societies around the world?

Slide45: 

Linking religious liberty and economic freedom to form enterprises of lasting value is the clarion call of humane people and enlightened nations today, in every country, every region, and on every continent

Slide46: 

a