Modelling the Economic Growth of an Islamic Economy

Abstract

In an Islamic economy economic growth is not an end in itself, butrather a means of promoting the citizenry's good life. Growth dependsupon several factors, among them a consistent increase in the amount ofphysical goods and seMces produced over a given period of time. Thisis usually taken as an index of economic growth. Adopting the sameindex, this paper asks: What factor explains economic growth in an Islamiceconomy? For this purpose, the paper refers to the Islamic economyof Madinah, which saw substantial expansion in all directions during thereigns of the Prophet and his four immediate political successols.This paper gives an answer based on the hypothesis that both physicaland moral factors are instrumental in causing economic growth in an Islamiceconomy. This hypothesis is quite different from that of seculareconomics, which views economic growth only in terms of physical factors.Such an explanation has been found inadequate, however, as empiricalstudies on American data have shown that just over half of all outputgrowth is explained by physical factors. Denison calls the unexplainedpart "the measm of our ignorance" (Branson and Litvack 1981).Many Muslim economists have discussed the role of moral factors invarious forms (i.e., integrity, cultural will, and calls to the Muslim massesto regain their past glory). This paper, however, views the role of moralfactors in terms of the bounty of God (fadl Allah). It is argued that thisfactor influenced economic growth through both autonomous and inducedchannels operating in institutional factors (i.e., the mosque and the state)and the level of God-consciousness (taqwa) in an Islamic society.The hypothesis is examined theoretically, because statistical data forempirical analysis is not available. The paper relies on the Qur'an and the ...