"God Damn": The Law and Economics of Monastic Malediction
Peter T. Leeson
Today monks are known for turning the other cheek, honoring saints, and blessing humanity with brotherly love. But centuries they were equally fulminating their foes, humiliating casting calamitous curses at persons who crossed them. Clerics called these “maledictions.” This article argues that medieval communities of canons used maledictions to protect property against predators where government physical self-help unavailable To explain how did this I develop a theory cursing rational agents. show capable improving protection when cursors targets must satisfy three conditions. They be grounded in targets’ existing beliefs, monopolized by cursors, unfalsifiable. Malediction satisfied conditions, making it an effective institutional substitute conventional institutions clerical protection. (JEL D83, K11, K42, K49, N43, Z12)
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