Religion and Economics: The Economic Views of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia

Authors

• Giuli Giguashvili, Gori State UniversityFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5657-7544

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of religion on a country’s economic development, analyzing how religious values and institutions influence economic behavior. The research employs a qualitative, comparative, and historical approach based on the systematic analysis of primary and secondary sources. Religion can promote economic growth by strengthening work ethics, education, and social order. Still, it may also hinder development through inefficient resource allocation and regulatory influence. In the context of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Georgia, the study highlights the relationship between Orthodox teaching and economic thought. Drawing on the epistles and sermons of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II (1933–2026), the article identifies primary socio-economic challenges: unemployment, low living standards, migration, agricultural development, small business support, demographic challenges, healthcare improvement, globalization, and reducing dependence on imports, among others. The findings suggest that Ilia II’s views constitute an important component of Georgian socio-economic thought and may provide a value-based perspective for addressing contemporary socio-economic challenges and promoting sustainable development.

Recommended Citation

Giguashvili, Giuli (2026) "Religion and Economics: The Economic Views of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia," Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 46 : Iss. 8 , Article 12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55221/2693-2229.2832
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol46/iss8/12