Bulls, Bears & Golden Calves

by Stapleford, John E.

• ISBN13: 9780830826803
• ISBN10: 0830826807
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-02-01
• Publisher: Intervarsity Pr

Summary

Self-interest, economic efficiency and private property rights are among the most basic assumptions of market economics. But can an economic theory built on these assumptions alone provide adequate insight into human nature, motivation and ultimate goals to guide our economic life? John Stapleford says no along with those economists who recognize the limits of their discipline. He insightfully shows us in detail how ethics are inextricably intertwined with economic life and analysis. Writing from a Christian ethical perspective, he interacts with seven standard introductory economics texts, exploring the moral challenges imbedded in various macro-, micro- and international economic theories and outlining a faithful response to them. Among the important ethical issues addressed are possibilities and perils of economic growth the role of government in the economy the growth of work and loss of leisure lending and borrowing poverty and distributive justice environmental stewardship business and social responsibility legalized gambling the pornography industry debt relief for less developed countries the economics of immigration population control Keyed to seven of the most widely used introductory economics texts--Gwartney, Stroup and Sobel; Mankiw; Mansfield and Behravesh; McConnell and Brue; Miller; Samuelson and Nordhaus; and Stiglitz--this book will be especially useful for introductory courses in economics.

Author Biography

John E. Stapleford is professor of economic development at Eastern College, St. Davids, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Foreword	7	(4)
Acknowledgments	11	(2)
Introduction	13	(2)
SECTION I - Laying the Foundation
Grid Work A Theological & Ethical Framework	15	(15)
SECTION II - Reflections on the Basic Assumptions of Economics
Me, Myself & Why? Pursuit of Self-Interest Promotes What Exactly?	30	(14)
Waste Not? Reappraising the Goal of Economic Efficiency	44	(13)
It's Mine! Private Property Rights	57	(10)
SECTION III - Macroeconomic Issues
How Does Your Garden Grow? The Possibilities & Perils of Economic Growth	67	(13)
Render unto Caesar The Role of Government in the Economy	80	(10)
Overemployment The Growth of Work & the Loss of Leisure	90	(15)
Catching Your Interest Lending & Borrowing in Scripture & History	105	(10)
SECTION IV - Microeconomic Issues
A Clarion Call Poverty & Distributive Justice	115	(15)
Tending the Garden Environmental Stewardship	130	(16)
Who's Responsible? Business & Social Responsibility	146	(12)
False Hope The Boom in Legalized Gambling	158	(14)
The Naked Gorilla The Ethical & Economic Challenge of the Pornography Industry	172	(9)
SECTION V - International Issues
A Matter of Life & Debt Debt Relief for Less-Developed Countries	181	(8)
Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor... The Economics of Immigration	189	(10)
The Malthusian Blues The Ethics & Economics of Population Control	199	(10)
Appendix: Interactions Between This Book & Standard Economics Texts	209	(2)
Notes	211