Persecution and Toleration: The Long Road to Religious Freedom (Cambridge Studies in Economics, Choice, and Society)

This book provides a groundbreaking explanation of how religious liberty emerged in medieval and early modern Europe, challenging the conventional wisdom that it was the result of a gradual evolution towards greater tolerance or the actions of enlightened rulers.

By combining economic reasoning with historical evidence, Johnson and Koyama offer a novel perspective on the birth of religious liberty, highlighting the role of political leaders and institutions in shaping the relationship between religion and state.

The authors elucidate the economic and political incentives that drove these leaders to promote religious toleration, providing a rich history of change and variation in rules, institutions, and societies.

This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the origins of religious liberty and its ongoing impact on modern society.