The supply-side model of religion: The Nordic and Baltic States

The paper uses the fortunes of religion in the Nordic and Baltic States to identify weaknesses in the supply-side model of religious behaviour promote d by Stark, Finke and Iannaccone. Changes in religious observance in the No rdic countries over the twentieth century, and comparisons between them, co ntradict a number of supply-side propositions. Comparisons between the Balt ic states similarly show no support for supply-side claims. Instead both cl usters suggest that the fate of religion owes more to its links with ethnic ity than to issues of state regulation.