A Macroeconomic Perspective on the Reformation and the Downscaling of the Church in Denmark, 1500-1600

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Macroeconomic Perspective on the Reformation and the Downscaling of the Church in Denmark, 1500-1600

AU - Paldam, Martin

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - In 1536, the Reformation of Denmark changed the state religion from Catholic to Lutheran. The paper assesses that the Church sector in the economy peaked around year 1500, where its share of GDP was about 11%. After the Reformation, the share fell to less than half. These assessments combine the few macroeconomic facts known about the period and our knowledge about the structure of the economy today in countries at the same level of development as Denmark at that time. It is discussed how the fall in the share of the Church was accommodated and how it influenced the political structure in the country.

AB - In 1536, the Reformation of Denmark changed the state religion from Catholic to Lutheran. The paper assesses that the Church sector in the economy peaked around year 1500, where its share of GDP was about 11%. After the Reformation, the share fell to less than half. These assessments combine the few macroeconomic facts known about the period and our knowledge about the structure of the economy today in countries at the same level of development as Denmark at that time. It is discussed how the fall in the share of the Church was accommodated and how it influenced the political structure in the country.

KW - Religious change, economic history, patterns of development

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0170-2521

VL - 7

SP - 5

EP - 28

JO - Munich Social Science Review

JF - Munich Social Science Review

IS - 1

ER -