Economic Analysis of Moral Behavior

Author: Hu Haiou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book argues that moral behavior is not only a norm of conduct but also a noble emotional experience, and more importantly, a way for people to maximize their satisfaction under reasonable institutional conditions. This means that moral behavior, in its essence, not only aligns with the interests of society but also with the interests of the individual. The consistency between morality and economics lies in this very point. If unethical economic practices can persist, or if economical moral practices cannot beed, it must be a problem with the system. The only solution to this issue is to change the unreasonable economic system, rather than asking individuals to abandon their own interests. This is because a reasonable system can enable people to maximize their utility while promoting the interests of the group and society. The current low level of morality in our country is primarily due to the disarray during the transition of two systems. Only by persistently advancing this transition can we lay the foundation for continuously improving the moral level of our country. The significance of proving the consistency between morality and economics lies in emphasizing that economic system reform can shift the essence of moral behavior from sacrificing individual interests to upholding individual interests, thereby giving people a lasting motivation to consciously follow moral norms.