Is the Market Moral?: A Dialogue on Religion, Economics and Justice

by William McGurn, William McGurn

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In the great tradition of moral argument about the nature of the economic market, Rebecca Blank and William McGurn join to debate the fundamental questions—equality and efficiency, productivity and social justice, individual achievement and personal rights in the workplace, and the costs and benefits of corporate and entrepreneurial capitalism. Their arguments are grounded in both economic sophistication and religious commitment. Rebecca Blank is an economist by training and describes herself as ""culturally Protestant in the habits of mind and heart."" She has also chaired the committee that wrote the statement on Christian faith and economic life adopted by the United Church of Christ. Addressing market failure, for her, requires that sometimes ""freedom to choose"" give way to other human values. William McGurn, a journalist and a Roman Catholic, uses his expertise in economics to reflect on the teachings of the church concerning the morality of the market. For McGurn, humans reach their fullest potential when they are free from the constraints of others. He writes that ""our quarrel is not so much with Adam Smith or Milton Friedman but with the Providence that so clearly designed man to be his most prosperous at his most free."" This book grapples with the new imperatives of a global economy while working in the classic tradition of political economy which always treated seriously the questions of morality, justice, productivity, and freedom.
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Genres: Economics

167 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Darin Rigney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going to a private, liberal arts university, it is important to explore the integration of faith and knowledge in all areas.of study. One such area, often overlooked when it comes to this integration, is the role of Christian standards in the economic market. This book forces the readers to think about what their view of the market is, how they want to contribute to it in a moral way, and how can Christian standards exist in a scenario fixed solely on money? The authors of this book, Rebecca Blank and William McGurn, are both extremely qualified individuals that encourage the readers to find their own view of whether or not the market is moral, and how the market can be used for good. The authors both integrate their faith with their opinions but have differing opinions on how the market should be manipulated for the good of others, thus allowing the readers to choose for themselves. I very much enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who desires to be educated about the market and their faith.

[David]

With an ever-growing sense of direct contemporary relevance: The collaboration of Rebecca M. Blank (Dean of the Gerald R.FordSchool of Public Policy and Professor of Economics, University of Michigan) and William McGurn (Chief Editorial Writer, Wall Street Journal), Is The Market Moral?: A Dialogue On Religion, Economics & Justice is a literate discussion of serious issues of economic equality, efficiency, productivity, and social justice. The contrasting views of two strong-willed, intelligent, faithful, and astutely reasoned individuals - one a "cultural Protestant", the other a Roman Catholic, both concerned with issues of morality and human feedom to choose as surely as technical problems of supply and demand. Add in drastic changes wrought by increased globalization in today's world, and the evaluations followed by direct and personally addressed rebuttals in Is The Market Moral? take on an ever-growing sense of direct contemporary relevance, even urgency.

[Coleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Dr. Blank did a great job of articulating my own personal beliefs. I highlighted many pages for future discussions with folks who think I am liberal; I often say I'm not liberal, I'm Christian.