How everyday ethics becomes a moral economy, and vice versa

Webb Keane

No 2019-9, Economics Discussion Papers from Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel)

Abstract: Unrealistic assumptions underlying neo-classical economic theory have been challenged by both behavioral economics and studies of moral economy. But both challengers share certain features with neo-classical theory. Complementing them, recent work in the anthropology of ethics shows that economic behavior is not reducible to either individual psychology or collective norms. This approach is illustrated with studies of transactions taking place at the borders between market rationality and relationships among persons - organ donation and sex work. The paper argues that the inherent value accorded to social relations tends to resist instrumentalization and that the biases that dealing with other people introduce into reasoning are not flaws but part of the core functions of rationality.

Keywords: ethics; moral economy; behavioral economics; organ donation; sex work; gifts; social interaction; rationality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A10 D01 D63 D91 E71 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-exp, nep-hme and nep-hpe
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http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2019-9
https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/191902/1/1048669688.pdf (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:ifwedp:20199

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