Sabbath economics is an economic model championed by Christian economist Ched Myers

Ched Myers

Ched Myers is a theologian specializing in biblical studies and political theology. In 1988 he published Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus, which was influential in the Radical Discipleship Movement, particularly among Catholic Workers...

 The model is an application of the economic aspects of Biblical Sabbath

Biblical Sabbath

Sabbath in the Bible is usually a weekly day of rest and time of worship. The Sabbath is first mentioned in the Genesis creation narrative. The seventh day is there set aside as a day of rest—the Sabbath. It is observed differently in Judaism and Christianity and informs a similar occasion in...

 to modern socioeconomics

Socioeconomics

Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...

. In the introduction of his book introducing this model, Myers states that "God's people are instructed to dismantle, on a regular basis, the fundamental patterns and structures of stratified wealth and power, so that there is 'enough for everyone.' " This statement contains two of the core principles of Myer's socioeconomic vision:

1. The focus on voluntary redistribution of wealth
2. A foundation of abundance
   Abundance
   Abundance may refer to:In science and technology:* Abundance , the opposite of scarcities* Abundance , growing food with plentiful resources that will not run out -- sunshine, CO2, and waste or brine water....
   
    as opposed to scarcity
   Scarcity
   Scarcity is the fundamental economic problem of having humans who have unlimited wants and needs in a world of limited resources. It states that society has insufficient productive resources to fulfill all human wants and needs. Alternatively, scarcity implies that not all of society's goals can be...
   
    in other modern economic models.

The Biblical concepts from which Sabbath economics draws are:

• The Sabbath day, particularly during the journey through the wilderness as described in Exodus 15-17
• The Sabbath year, described in Exodus 23, where the land was not cultivated, and slaves were released every seventh year
• The Year of Jubilee
  Jubilee (Biblical)
  The Jubilee year is the year at the end of seven cycles of Sabbatical years , and according to Biblical regulations had a special impact on the ownership and management of land in the territory of the kingdoms of Israel and of Judah; there is some debate whether it was the 49th year The Jubilee...
  
  , every 50th year - the "Sabbath of Sabbaths" - when all debts were cancelled, and all property returned to the original owners

Others have since sought to explore the ideas of a Sabbath economy in practical ways. Sabbath economics and related concepts of jubilee economics have also received attention from the liberation theology

Liberation theology

Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...

 community, and other Christian thinkers who focus on social justice

Social justice

Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...

, gender equality

Gender equality

Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...

 and other humanitarian issues.