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PaulOslington_profile

Professor Paul Oslington

Professor of Economics and Theology

Biography

Paul Oslington joined Alphacrucis in January 2013, and was inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Business and PhD Program Director. Previously he held a Chair jointly in the School of Business and School of Theology at Australian Catholic University from 2008-2013, and Associate Professor of Economics at University of New South Wales.He held visiting positions at University of Oxford in 1999, University of British Columbia and Regent College Vancouver in 2003, Princeton Theological Seminary and University in 2006-2007, and the Center of Theological Inquiry Princeton in 2020.

Paul is a member of the Theology and Society research cluster.

Qualifications

DTheol (University of Divinity), Political Economy as Natural Theology – 2018

PhD (University of Sydney), Unemployment in an Open Economy. – 1997

MEc (Hons) (University of Sydney), Causality in Economics: The Hermeneutic Contribution of Max Weber – 1993

BD (University of Divinity) – 1992

BEc (Macquarie University) – 1986

  • Research Publications

    Books

    • 2018
      • Oslington, P (2018). Political Economy as Natural Theology: Smith, Malthus and their Followers. Routledge. | External link
    • 2014
      • Viner, J., Oslington, P. (2014). The Customs Union Issue. Oxford University Press. | External link
    • 2007
      • Oslington, P. (2007). The Theory of International Trade and Unemployment. Edward Elgar Publishing. | External link
    • 2003
      • Oslington, Paul (2003). Economics and Religion. (International Library of Critical Writings in Economics.). Edward Elgar Publishing. | AC Link

    Book Chapters

    • 2023
      • Oslington, P; Hart, D. (2023). "Smith, the Scottish Enlightenment and Beyond" In Oslington, P; Hart, D., Adam Smith and Why he Matters Today. Essays on the Relevance of Smith after 300 Years (pp. ). Centre for Independent Studies. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2023). The Quest for Adam Smith’s Theodicy In Luca Fiorito, Scott Scheall and Carlos Eduardo Suprinyak, Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology (pp. 37-57). Emerald Publishing Limited. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P; Hart, D. (2023). Smith and Rent Seeking in Australia In Oslington, P; Hart, D., Adam Smith and Why he Matters Today. Essays on the Relevance of Smith after 300 Years (pp. ). Centre for Independent Studies. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2023). Why Is the Conversation between Theologians and Economists So Difficult? In Piet Naude and Michael Welker, The Impact of Political Economy on Character Formation, Ethical Education and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies (pp. ). Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Heidelberg.
    • 2022
      • Oslington, P (2022). Economics In edited by Brendan Wolfe, St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (pp. ). . | External link | AC Link
    • 2020
      • Oslington, P (2020). Understanding Economic Impacts on Virtue and the Pursuit of Goods In Jurgen Von Hagen, Michael Welker, John Witte and Stephen Pickard, The Impact of the Economic Market on Character Formation, Ethical Education and the Communication of Values in Late Modern Pluralistic Societies (pp. 93-112). Evangelische Verlagsanstalt.
      • Oslington, Paul (2020). Adam Smith's Economics of the Church In S. Schwarzkopf, Routledge Companion to Economic Theology (pp. 322-30). . | External link | AC Link
    • 2019
      • Oslington, P (2019). Competition Policy in Higher Education In William Coleman, Campus Meltdown: The Deepening Crisis in Australian Universities (pp. 273-84). Connor Court. | External link | AC Link
    • 2011
      • Oslington, P (2011). Divine Action, Providence and Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand In , Adam Smith as Theologian (pp. ). Routledge.
      • Oslington, P (2011). The Engagement of Caritas in Veritate with Economics In , Globalization and the Church: Reflections on Caritas in Veritate (pp. ). St Paul's Books.
    • 2008
      • Oslington, P. (2008). Christianity's Post-Enlightenment Contribution to Economic Thought In Harper I. and Gregg, S., Christian Morality and Market Economies: Theological and Philosophical Perspectives (pp. 60-76). Edward Elgar Publishing. | External link
    • 2002
      • Oslington, P (2002). Economic and Theological Implications of the Contracting-Out of Welfare and Labour Market Services In Brian Howe, Churches and Markets (pp. 13-51). Australian Theological Forum.
    • 1999
      • Oslington, P (1999). Islamic Economics In B.Dahiya, Jan Tinbergen, The Current State of Economic Science (pp. ). Institute of Development Planning.

    Journal Articles

    • 2024
      • Oslington, P (2024). What Does the Bible say About Economics?. Faith and Economics, 82 7-39. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2024). Reception History and the Historiography of Economics. History of Economics Review, 86. | External link | AC Link
    • 2023
      • Oslington, P (2023). Is Alasdair MacIntyre Right that Aristotelian-Thomist Natural Law Ethics is Incompatible with Capitalism and Economics. Faith and Economics, 2023. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2023). Alasdair MacIntyre and Adam Smith on Markets, Virtues and Ends. Business Ethics, . | AC Link
    • 2022
      • Oslington, P (2022). Australian Secularism, Religious Not-for-Profits and Higher Education: Connections and Gaps. Lucas: An Evangelical History Review, 19 133-52. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P & Hengstmengel, J (2022). The Curious Tale of Libanius, Grotius and Jacob Viner’s Universal Economy Doctrine. History of Economics Review, 83/1 11-23. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P. (2022). Teaching Economics and Theology in Australia. Faith and Economics, 79 53-68. | AC Link
    • 2021
      • Oslington, P (2021). Radical Orthodoxy Encounters Economics: Deeper Engagement Needed. Journal of Markets and Morality, 24/1 195-205 and 213-15. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2021). Religion and the Rise of Capitalism: A Review Essay. Journal of Markets and Morality, 24/2 247-62.. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (with B. Freyens) (2021). The Impact of Unfair Dismissal Regulation: Evidence from an Australian Natural Experiment.. Labour, 35/2 264-90. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2021). Free Factor Unemployment. Economia Internazionale, 74/2 225-44. | AC Link
    • 2020
      • Oslington, P (2020). Providence and the Invisible Hand: Comments on Van der Kooi and Ballor. Journal of Economics, Theology and Religion, 1/1 109-112.
      • Oslington, P (2020). The Kuyperian Dream of Reconstructing Economics on Christian Foundations. Faith and Economics, 75 7–36. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2020). The Economic Benefits of Australian Theological Education. Colloquium, 52/1 7-33. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2020). A Natural Law Framework for Economists. Academy of Management Proceedings, September. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2020). What is an Australian Job Worth?. Australian Economic Review, 53/4 482-93. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2020). What Does the Next Generation of Christian Not-for-Profit Leaders Need?. Third Sector Review, 26/1 163-174. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2020). Economics and Biblical Studies. Oxford Bibliographies in Biblical Studies, . | External link | AC Link
    • 2019
      • Oslington, P (2019). The New View of Adam Smith in Context. History of Economics Review, 71/1 118-31.. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P, Jensen, N and Ryan, I (2019). Enhancing the Evidence Base for Australian Theological Research. Colloquium, 51/1 1-20. | AC Link
    • 2018
      • Oslington, P (2018). "Comments on Alex Millmow’s History of Australasian Economics." Contribution to Symposium. History of Economics Review, 69 62-64. | External link
    • 2017
      • Oslington, P (2017). “Readings for Christian Economists.” Contribution to Symposium. Faith and Economics, 70 Fall 57-59. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P. (2017). Natural Theology, Theodicy and Political Economy in 19th Century Britain: William Whewell’s Struggle. History of Political Economy, 49/4 575-606. | External link | AC Link
      • Oslington, P (2017). Anglican Social Thought and the Shaping of Political Economy in Britain: Joseph Butler, Josiah Tucker, William Paley and Edmund Burke. History of Economics Review, 66/2 26-45. | External link | AC Link
    • 2016
      • Oslington, P (2016). “Equality, Rhetoric, and the Big Questions.” Contribution to Symposium on Bourgeoisie Equality: How Ideas not Capital or Institutions Enriched the World by Deirdre McCloskey. Faith and Economics, 68 Fall 35-39. | External link
      • Oslington, P; Bruni, L; & Zamagni, S (2016). Introduction to Special Issue on Economics and Theology. International Review of Economics, 63/1 1-5.
      • Oslington, P. (2016). Economics and Biblical Studies. , . | External link | AC Link
    • 2015
      • Oslington, P (2015). Sacred and Secular in Australian Social Services. Pacifica, 28/1 79-93. | AC Link
    • 2014
      • Oslington, P (2014). “Comments on The History of Economic Thought: A Double Lament” Contribution to Symposium. History of Economics Review, 60 6-8.
    • 2013
      • Oslington, P (2013). “Contextual History, Practitioner History and Classic Status: Reading Jacob Viner’s The Customs Union Issue”. Journal of the History of the Economic Thought, 35/4 491-515. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P and Freyens, B (2013). “A First Look at Incidence and Outcomes of Unfair Dismissal Claims under Fair Work, Work Choices and the Workplace Relations Act.”. Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 16/2 295-306. | AC Link
    • 2012
      • Oslington, P and Coleman, W (2012). Introduction to Economic Society of Australia Conference Special Issue. Economic Record, 88/1.
      • Oslington, P. (2012). God and the Market: Adam Smith's Invisible Hand. Journal of Business Ethics, 108/4 429-438. | External link
      • Ormerod, N. and Oslington, P and Koning, R (2012). Bernard Lonergan and the Development of Catholic Social Teaching on Economics. Theological Studies, 73 June 391-421. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2012). Jacob Viner, the Cost of Protection and Customs Unions: New Light from a Manitoba Consulting Assignment. History of Economics Review, 55 Winter 73-79. | External link
    • 2011
      • Oslington, P (2011). Economic Journalism in Australia: Introduction to Symposium. Economic Papers, 30/4 431.
      • Oslington, P. (2011). Lonergan's Reception among Economists: Tale of a Dead Fish and an Agenda f or Future Work. Method: Journal of Lonergan Studies, New Series 2/1 67-78. | External link | AC Link
      • Oslington, P. (2011). Caritas in Veritate and the Market Economy: How do we Reconcile Traditional Christian Ethics with Economic Analysis of Social Systems?. Journal of Markets and Morality, 14/2 359-71. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2011). The Future Hope in Adam Smith’s System. Studies in Christian Ethics, 24/3 1-21. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2011). Popes and Markets. Policy: a journal of public policy and ideas, 26/4 31-35. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2011). What do Economists and Theologians Have to Say to Each Other?. Faith and Economics, Fall 1-30. | External link
    • 2010
      • Oslington, P and Heaton, C (2010). Micro vs Macro Explanations of Post-War US Unemployment Movements. Economics Letters, 106 87-91. | AC Link
      • Towers, I. and Oslington, P. (2010). Trade, Migration and Inequality in a World without Factor Price Equalisation. Review of International Economics, 18/4 650-62. | External link
    • 2009
      • Oslington, P. (2009). Deus Economicus" Published with comments by Anthony Kelly and Neil Ormerod" A Conversation on Paul Oslington's Deus Economicus. Australian e-Journal of Theology, . | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2009). Whither Christian Economics? Further Reflections in the Light of a Conference: The Future of Economics and Theology as an Interdisciplinary Research Field. Association of Christian Economists UK Journal, 3 1-7. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2009). Religious Perspectives on the Financial Crisis. The American Economist, Spring 28-30. | External link
      • Towers, I. and Oslington, P. (2009). Pushing Economies - and Students - Outside the Factor Price Equalisation Zone. Journal of Economic Education, 40/4 422-33. | External link
    • 2008
      • Oslington, P. (2008). Public Theology: Some Measures and Australian Reflections. Colloquium, 40/2 183-93. | External link
      • Freyens, B. and Oslington, P. (2008). Dismissal Costs and their Impact on Employment: Evidence from Australian Small and Medium Enterprises. Economic Record, 83/260 1-15. | External link
    • 2005
      • Oslington, P and Freyens, B (2005). The Likely Employment Impact of Removing Unfair Dismissal Protection. Journal of Australian Political Economy, 55 56-65.
      • Oslington, P. (2005). Ethics Education and Research at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Australian Defence Journal, 167 82-83. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2005). Incentives in On-Line Education. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 27/1 97-104. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2005). Unemployment and Trade Liberalisation. World Economy, August 1139-55. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2005). Contracting-Out of Assistance to the Unemployed: Implications of the Australian Experiment. Economic Record, 81/252. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2005). Natural Theology as an Integrative Framework for Theology and Economics. St Mark's Review,  20-31. | External link
    • 2004
      • Oslington, P. (2004). The Impact of Uncertainty and Irreversibility on Investments in On-Line Learning. Distance Education, 25/2 233-42. | External link
    • 2003
      • Oslington, P. (2003). Editorial Introduction: The Job Network. Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 6/2 195-8.
      • Oslington, P. (2003). Why Ethics Committees are Unethical. Agenda, 10/2 185-191. | External link
    • 2002
      • Oslington, P and Heaton, C (2002). The Contribution of Structural Shocks to Australian Unemployment. Economic Record, 78/243 433-442. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P. (2002). Trade, Wages and Unemployment in the Presence of Hiring and Firing Costs. Economic Record, 78/241 195-206. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2002). Teaching Economics Historically. History of Economics Review, 36 160-164. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2002). Factor Market Linkages in a Global Economy. Economics Letters, 76/1 85-93. | AC Link
      • Heaton, C. and Oslington, P. (2002). How Much Unemployment is Structural?. Economic Record, . | External link
    • 2001
      • Oslington, P. (2001). An Australian Model - Non Traded Goods, Real Exchange Rates and Unemployment. Australian Economic Papers, 40/3 334-351. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P. (2001). Nassau Senior, John Henry Newman and the Separation of Political Economy from Theology in the Nineteenth Century. History of Political Economy, 33/4 825-42. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2001). Migration, Jobs and Welfare: A General Equilibrium Analysis. Pacific Economic Review, 6/3 331-344. | AC Link
    • 2000
      • Oslington, P. (2000). A Theological Economics. International Journal of Social Economics, 27/1 32-44. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (2000). Japanese Contributions to the Theory of International Trade. Japanese Economic Review, 51/3 334-348. | AC Link
      • Oslington, P. (2000). Factor Price Equalisation and Trade Patterns with Unemployment. Journal of Economic Integration, 15/1 127-44.
    • 1999
      • Oslington, P. (1999). Duality and the Specific Factors Model. Economia Internazionale, 52/3 373-382.
      • Oslington, P. (1999). Christian Theology and Economic Theory: A Reading Guide. , . | External link
    • 1998
      • Oslington, P. (1998). Australian Immigration Policy and Unemployment. Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 2/2 91-104.
    • 1997
      • Oslington, P (1997). Development Economics and Classical Economics. South African Journal of Economics, 65/1 114-129.
    • 1996
      • Oslington, P (1996). Technological Change and Development Theory. Malaysian Journal of Economic Studies, 31/2 55-63.
    • 1995
      • Oslington, P and Hawtrey, K (1995). Some Questions on the Relationship between Economics and Christianity. History of Economics Review, 24 87-94.
      • Oslington, P (1995). Economic Thought and Religious Thought: Al Ghazali. History of Political Economy, 27/4 775-780. | AC Link
    • 1993
      • Oslington, P (1993). History of Development Economics. Pakistan Development Review, 32/4 631-636.

    Edited Books

    • 2018
      • Oslington, P; Hirschfeld, M; and Williams, P (eds.) (2018). Recent Developments in Economics and Religion. | External link | AC Link
    • 2014
      • Oslington, P. (2014). Oxford Handbook of Christianity and Economics.. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (ed) (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Christianity and Economics. | External link
    • 2011
      • Ormerod, N. and Oslington, P. (eds.) (2011). Globalization and the Church: Reflections on Caritas in Veritate. | External link
      • Oslington, P. (ed) (2011). Adam Smith as Theologian. | External link
    • 2003
      • Oslington, P. (Ed) (2003). Economics and Religion (International Library of Critical Writings in Economics). | External link | AC Link

  • Internal and External Grants

    • 2025
      • AC Conference Funding, $3000, Alphacrucis University College
      • AC Internal Research Grant, $5200, Alphacrucis University College
    • 2024
      • AC Conference Funding, $2000, Alphacrucis University College
    • 2023
      • AC Conference Funding, $1000, Alphacrucis University College
      • Faith, Work and Economics, $10300, The Different Co., Melbourne
      • International Travel Grant, $2000, Alphacrucis University College
    • 2022
      • History of Macquarie Christian Studies Institute, $7500, Australian Research Theology Foundation
    • 2019
      • Economic Benefits of Australian Theological Research and Education, $20000, Australian Research Theology Foundation, plus matching funding
      • Reventure Karam Fellowship, $10000, -
    • 2018
      • Leadership in Christian Not-for-Profit Organisations, $30000, Genesis Foundation
      • Strengthening the Evidence Base for Australian Theological Research, $9500, Australian Research Theology Foundation, plus matching funding from participating universities and colleges
    • 2014
      • Economics and Theology, $5000, Acton Institute
    • 2013
      • The Place of Theology within the Australian Research Policy Framework, $16000, Australian Research Theology Foundation, plus matching funding from other organisations
      • The Transdisciplinary Vision of Bernard Lonergan: Theology, Economics and Finance, $30000, Metanexus/Templeton Foundation (with Professor Neil Ormerod, Australian Catholic University)
    • 2012
      • Economics and Religion, $256000, Templeton Foundation
    • 2010
      • The Impact of Dismissal Costs on Labour Markets, $5000, Australian Catholic University, School of Business, Research Grant
    • 2007
      • Economics as Natural Theology, $4580, Earhart Foundation
    • 2006
      • International Trade, $2000, Friends of Princeton University Library Grant
    • 2005
      • Economics and Religion, $60000, Metanexus/Templeton Foundation LSI Grant (with Professor Geoff Brennan ANU and Associate Professor Stephen Pickard St Marks National Theological Centre) to set up a Religion and Economics Dialogue Group
      • Economics and Religion, $5000, University of New South Wales Research Grant
      • Ethics Research Network, $22000, University of New South Wales Strategic Research Initiative Grant (plus contributions from the Australian Defence College and the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Applied and Professional Ethics)
      • Impact of Hiring and Firing Costs on Wages and Unemployment, $107000, Australian Research Council Discovery Grant
    • 2003
      • Development and Management Issues in On-Line Learning, $10000, Universitas 21 Fellowship
      • International Trade, $1300, Duke University Economists Papers Project
    • 2002
      • Natural Theology and Political Economy, $1300, Ian Potter Foundation
      • Theological Perspectives on Economics, $10000, CTNS/Templeton Foundation Course Award
    • 2001
      • Impact of Hiring and Firing Costs on Wages and Employment, $12000, University of New South Wales URSP Grant (previously ARC Small Grants)
    • 1998
      • Japanese Contributions to the Theory of International Trade, $2000, Toyota Finance Research Fellowship

  • Presentations

    • 2020
      • The Economic Benefits of Australian Theological Education (2020), AC Research Colloquium, Online, 24 Sep 2020
      • A Natural Law Framework for Economists (2020), Academy of Management Conference, Vancouver / Online, 11 Aug 2020
      • The Economics and Theology of Inequality (2020), Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton NJ, 24 Feb 2020
      • The Economics and Theology of Inequality (2020), Society of Christian Ethics, Washington DC, 09 Jan 2020
      • Adam Smith on Religion (2020), ACE session, American Economic Association,, San Diego, 04 Jan 2020
    • 2019
      • The New View of Adam Smith (2019), HETSA conference, Sydney, 14 Nov 2019
      • A Natural Law Framework for Human Action (2019), Transforming Work conference, Morling College, Sydney, 01 Jul 2019
    • 2014
      • Oxford Handbook of Economics and Christianity; and “Aristotelian Theories of Action: A Richer and Analytically Tractable Alternative for Economists?” (2014), Association for Religion, Economics and Culture, Orange, USA, 21 Mar 2014
      • Religion and Australian Universities: A Tale of Horror and Hope (2014), The Centre for Independent Studies, The Centre for Independent Studies, 11 Mar 2014
    • 2013
      • (with Professor Paul Williams) Christianity and the Political Economy of Capitalism (2013), INDS583 Christianity and the Political Economy of Capitalism, Regent College Summer School, 01 Jan 2013

  • Engagement Publications

  • Professional Memberships


    American Academy of Religion

    American Economic Association (since 2016)

    Association of Christian Economists

    Australian Institute of Company Directors

    Economic Society of Australia

    History of Economic Thought Society of Australia

    Society of Christian Scholars



  • Teaching

    Not currently teaching

  • Supervision

    • Current
      • Asnicar, P, The Church as a Learning Community: Communal learning and inquiry as locally embodied expression of the gospel (PhD thesis)
      • Magnussen, C, Paul Tillich and the Idea of Context in Modern Theology (MPhil thesis)
    • Completed
      • 2016
        • Hynd, D., Church and Church-related Agencies Engagement with the Federal Government in Service Deliver (Doctoral Thesis)
        • White, C., Economics and Theology of Competition (Doctoral Thesis)
      • 2011
        • Yang, Y.S., Economics and Theology of Salvation: Adam Smith and GWF Hegel (Doctoral Thesis)
      • 2008
        • Freyens, B., Hiring and Firing Costs in Australia: Levels, Structure, Impact and Policy (Doctoral Thesis)