Some of the literature available suggests that the major determinants of a person's income would be a combination of skills level, scarcity of the skills and therefore the amount of competition available and perhaps the degree of specialization. Brian Palmer's article in Slate Magazine compares the nominal incomes of individuals who provide religious services in the United States. I am surprised by the revelation not only because I have never considered this issue but also because the piece reveals interesting differences in the institutional organization of the various faiths.
Clearly, judging from the income reported, it appears that it is more financially rewarding to be a Rabbi. In trying to explain the reason for this, it is notable that Rabbi's tend to have more training and are comparatively likely to have made higher investment in their professional life on account of the longer training duration. On the other hand it is also clear that due to their numbers, Christian churches are in competition with one another and this inevitably drives compensation for pastors towards the marginal wage. It would be useful to determine the standard deviation across wages for all professionals providing religious services in addition to finding out which specific faith has the highest inequality within its professional cadre. My guess would be that the protestant Christian churches would have the highest inequality because the pastors of the mega-churches are in a different league and are a minority.
To my mind, it can be stated respectfully that the provision of religious services across monotheistic religions is amenable to analysis through basic tools of price theory. This labour market shows sensitivity to the amount of skill and the professionals therein are also able to supplement income by taking up other employment. Finally, it is clear that competition with the distinct faiths affects the income for individual pastors.
Clearly, judging from the income reported, it appears that it is more financially rewarding to be a Rabbi. In trying to explain the reason for this, it is notable that Rabbi's tend to have more training and are comparatively likely to have made higher investment in their professional life on account of the longer training duration. On the other hand it is also clear that due to their numbers, Christian churches are in competition with one another and this inevitably drives compensation for pastors towards the marginal wage. It would be useful to determine the standard deviation across wages for all professionals providing religious services in addition to finding out which specific faith has the highest inequality within its professional cadre. My guess would be that the protestant Christian churches would have the highest inequality because the pastors of the mega-churches are in a different league and are a minority.
To my mind, it can be stated respectfully that the provision of religious services across monotheistic religions is amenable to analysis through basic tools of price theory. This labour market shows sensitivity to the amount of skill and the professionals therein are also able to supplement income by taking up other employment. Finally, it is clear that competition with the distinct faiths affects the income for individual pastors.
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