In Search of a Moral Economy

Is there such a thing as a just, equitable and even moral economy?

Whatever our personal values or system of beliefs, many would agree that how we interact with our fellow human beings should reflect certain core values such as kindness, honesty, fairness and compassion. But if that is how we interact with each other individually, then should those same values also inspire our economic systems?

Typically economies are talked about in terms of theories, policies or statistics. But isn’t our economic system also a reflection of our values or, if not, shouldn’t it be? Do we create our economic systems or do they create us? Do the choices we’re currently making (or failing to make) truly reflect our values? More often than not, the determining question asks what is good for my bottom line – as an individual, as an organization, as a society. And the determining answer is usually whatever yields the highest dollar amount. But what if what is good for the collective also happens to be good