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Church Provision for Club Goods and Community Redevelopment in New Orleans East
August 17, 2007
This working paper examines how the church provision of club goods, or quasipublic goods, can foster community rebound in the wake of disaster. In particular, the swift return of the community surrounding the Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church in New Orleans East is examined here. This paper argues that the church provision of valuable club goods not easily replicable outside of New Orleans East is a driving force in drawing people back to the community. The club goods under consideration are 1) a distinct ethnic-religious-language community, 2) a capacity for communitywide social coordination, and 3) a capacity for political action. This paper concludes by considering the broader relevance this case has for understanding the role club goods can play in rendering individual agency more effective.
Key Words: religious provision of club goods, community redevelopment, social resilience, post-disaster recovery
The ideas presented in this research are the author's and do not represent official positions of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
