Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Economics

April 07, 2015

The Moral Importance of Profits

Yesterday I noted how Americans tend to overestimate the amount of profit earned by corporations. The actual profit margins are so thin that, as Mark J. Perry points out, for the typical company all sales revenue from January 1 to December 7 would go to cover the firm’s expenses for the year, and its sales on roughly the last 24 days of December from December 8 to December 31 would represent its profits. Continue Reading...
April 02, 2015

Why Cheap Food Makes Us Richer

While it may not seem like it when you’re standing at the checkout line at the grocery store, food is cheaper now that it was half a century ago. “We are purchasing more food for less money, and we are purchasing our food for less of our income,” says Annette Clauson, an agricultural economist. Continue Reading...
April 02, 2015

5 Principles for Spiritual Discernment in the Economic Order

If there’s one area of the faith-work conversation that’s lacking in exploration and introspection, it’s the role of spiritual discernment in the day-to-day decisions of economic life. It’s one thing to orient one’s heart and mind around the big picture of vocation and stewardship — no small feat, to be sure — but if economics is about the intersection of knowledge and human action, what does it mean to serve a God whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts?  Continue Reading...
April 01, 2015

When a Church Embraces the Power of Entrepreneurship

When we hear about church “outreach ministries,” we often think of food pantries, homeless shelters, and community events. But while these can be powerful channels for service, many churches are beginning to look for new ways to empower individuals more holistically. Continue Reading...
March 27, 2015

The Smile Curve and the Future of the Middle Class

The smile curve is an idea came from the computer industry, but it applies broadly. It’s a recognition, in graph form, that there is good money to be made (or more value to be added) in research and development, and, at the other end, in marketing and retailing. Continue Reading...