Sabbath economics

Sabbath economics is an economic model championed by Christian economist Ched Myers^[1] The model is an application of the economic aspects of Biblical Sabbath to modern socioeconomics. In the introduction of his book introducing this model, Myers states that "God's people are instructed to dismantle, on a regular basis, the fundamental patterns and structures of stratified wealth and power, so that there is 'enough for everyone.' " This statement contains two of the core principles of Myer's socioeconomic vision:

1. The focus on voluntary redistribution of wealth
2. A foundation of abundance as opposed to scarcity in other modern economic models.^[2]

The Biblical concepts from which Sabbath economics draws are:

• Sabbath day, particularly during the journey through the wilderness as described in Exodus 15-17
• Sabbath year, described in Exodus 23, where the land was not cultivated, and slaves were released every seventh year
• Year of Jubilee, every 50th year - "Sabbath of Sabbaths" - when all debts were cancelled, and all property returned to the original owners

Others have since sought to explore the ideas of a Sabbath economy in practical ways. ^[3][4] Sabbath economics and related concepts of jubilee economics have also received attention from the liberation theology community, and other Christian thinkers who focus on social justice, gender equality and other humanitarian issues.^[5]

References