Author Description
The Oxford Handbook of Ethics and Economics provides a thorough survey of the various ways ethics can, does, and should inform economic theory and practice. The first part of the book, Foundations, explores how the most prominent schools of moral philosophy relate to economics; asks how morals relevant to economic behavior may have evolved; and explains how various approaches to economics incorporate ethics into their work. The second part, Applications, looks at the ethics of commerce, finance, and markets; uncovers the moral dilemmas involved with making decisions regarding social welfare, risk, and harm to others; and explores how ethics is relevant to major topics within economics, such as health care and the environment.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume investigates the intersection of moral philosophy and economic theory to determine how ethical frameworks inform, or should inform, both economic practice and policy. Editor Mark D. White, a scholar in the fields of economics and philosophy, compiles contributions from various experts to bridge the gap between normative ethics and positive economic analysis. The text evaluates how moral considerations influence individual behavior, institutional design, and the broader scope of economic decision-making. By examining both historical foundations and contemporary applications, the book provides a structured inquiry into the moral dimensions of market activity.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of moral philosophy schools including utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics in relation to economic models.
- Examination of evolutionary perspectives on moral behavior within economic systems.
- Case studies regarding the ethics of finance, health care, and environmental policy.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a singular prescriptive moral code for economists to follow.
- It does not cover every niche subfield of behavioral economics, focusing instead on broader ethical intersections.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts identify this handbook as a comprehensive reference for scholars and students seeking to understand the normative underpinnings of economic thought. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of both economic theory and philosophical terminology to fully grasp the arguments presented.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
2019-01-01
ISBN-10:
019183579X
ISBN-13:
9780191835797
Economics
Moral Philosophy
Ethics
Social Welfare
Economics
Economic Theory