Speaker: Gebhard Kirchgässner
University of St. Gallen
Swiss Institute of International Economics
and Applied Economic Analysis and CESifo
Title: On Minimal Morals
Abstract
First, a definition and classification of moral (or altruistic)
behaviour is given. Then, we discuss the necessity of moral behaviour
for the functioning of a market economic and a democratic political
order. We also refer to attempts which have been undertaken in order
to show that such moral be-haviour is not necessary. Moral behaviour
can, however, only be stable if certain conditions hold. We present
five such conditions. Finally we point to some dangers of relying
on moral behaviour.
