Economics and ethics

About this book

Can economic analysis and policy formulation be free of ethical considerations? This book provides a rationale to explain why this is not the case. The authors of this volume argue that ethics enters economics at the ground level, and trying to leave out ethics runs the risk of leading to bad economic analysis and bad policies. The book argues that all individuals who make decisions in the economy have ethical values, which affect their behaviour and the nature of their interactions with others. It also shows how the evaluation of economic performance and policies requires a thorough analysis of ethics. This includes questions regarding the role of markets and the government, and the importance of efficiency, growth, and fairness. This book is essential reading for all interested in Economics and Ethics, in addition to graduates, professional economists and philosophers.