The Moral Foundation of Economic Behavior
- ISBN-10
- 019978177X
- ISBN-13
- 9780199781775
- Series
- The Moral Foundation of Economic Behavior
- Category
- Business & Economics
- Pages
- 560
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2011-08-01
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Author
- David C. Rose
Description
This book explains why moral beliefs can and likely do play an important role in the development and operation of market economies. It provides new arguments for why it is important that people genuinely trust others-even those whom they know don't particularly care about them-because in key circumstances institutions are incapable of combating opportunism. It then identifies specific characteristics that moral beliefs must have for the people who possess them to be regarded as trustworthy. When such moral beliefs are held with sufficient conviction by a sufficiently high proportion of the population, a high trust society emerges that supports maximum cooperation and creativity while permitting honest competition at the same time. Such moral beliefs are not tied to any particular religion and have nothing to do with moral earnestness or the set of moral values-what matters is how they affect the way people think about morality. Such moral beliefs are based on abstract ideas that must be learned so they are matters of culture, not genes, and are therefore able to explain differences in economic performance across societies.
Get the book
Other editions
Similar books
-
Why Culture Matters Most
By David C. RoseIn this thought-provoking book, David C. Rose argues that societal success depends on overcoming the challenge posed by rational self-interest undermining the common good.
-
Foundations of a Sustainable Economy: Moral, Ethical and Religious Perspectives
By Umar Burki, Toseef Azid, Robert Francis DahlstromThis book addresses current practices related to sustainable development, its challenges and the future.
-
The Oxford Handbook of Ethics and Economics
By Mark D. WhiteThe Oxford Handbook of Ethics and Economics provides a timely and thorough survey of the various ways ethics can, does, and should inform economic theory and practice.
-
Economics and the Virtues: Building a New Moral Foundation
By Mark D. White, Jennifer A. BakerA volume by leading economists and philosophers that explores the contributions that virtue ethics can make to economics.
-
Moral Markets: The Critical Role of Values in the Economy
By Paul J. ZakOr is it? Drawing on converging evidence from neuroscience, social science, biology, law, and philosophy, Moral Markets makes the case that modern market exchange works only because most people, most of the time, act virtuously.
-
Moral Sentiments and Material Interests: The Foundations of Cooperation in Economic Life
By Herbert GintisThe Foundations of Cooperation in Economic Life Professor Emeritus of Economics University of Massachusetts and ... Baland , Jean Marie , Pranab Bardhan , and Samuel Bowles , Inequality , Cooperation and Environmental Sustainability .
-
Altruism, Morality, and Economic Theory
By Edmund S. PhelpsPresents a collection of papers by economists theorizing on the roles of altruism and morality versus self-interest in the shaping of human behavior and institutions.
-
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion
By Jonathan HaidtPresents a groundbreaking investigation into the origins of morality at the core of religion and politics, offering scholarly insight into the motivations behind cultural clashes that are polarizing America.
-
Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics
By Jane JacobsIn this work of profound insight and elegance, Jacobs gives us a new way of seeing all our public transactions and encourages us towards the best use of our natural inclinations.
-
Game Theory, Experience, Rationality: Foundations of Social Sciences, Economics and Ethics in honor of John C. Harsanyi
By W. Leinfellner, Eckehart KöhlerThis book leaves no doubt that the game-theoretical models are on the right track to becoming a respectable new theory, just like the great theories of the twentieth century originated from formerly separate models which merged in the ...