The moral layer of contemporary economics: A virtue-ethics perspective

This paper questions whether the contemporary science of economics and its recommendations are built on sound moral foundations as assessed from a virtue-based definition of ethical behaviour. We argue that the model of man underlying economic analyses can correspond to the model of a virtuous person, and that economics, by advocating reasoned choice and careful resource utilization, makes a positive contribution to the moral development of individuals.Economics; Efficiency; Rationality; Tastes; Virtue Ethics

Four Myths and a Financial Crisis

The main driving force of the financial crisis of 2007-2009 was a rapid deterioration of the trust of private agents in the quality of financial institutions. In turn, this loss of confidence entailed the collapse of several key asset markets and a sharp decline in the other asset prices. This paper surveys the critical moments of the crisis, puts forward some of the shock amplifying mechanisms and comments on the effectiveness of various policy measures. The conclusion opens the debate on what structural changes in the existing financial architecture are required to contain such crises in the future.Banking Sector; Economic Myths; Economic Policy; Financial Crisis; Trust

The Ethical Dimension of Economic Choices

In general, capitalist countries display sustained growth, dynamism and innovation, and a high adaptability in response to external shocks. Yet in the last twenty years discontent over the notorious drawbacks of capitalism – corporate frauds, corruption, abuses of market power – has grown continually. In this paper, we argue that no remedy to these difficulties can be found if ethical dilemmas are not anticipated and addressed at the individual, firm and economy-wide level. While pro-ethical changes in business regulation would help, government action alone may not be effective enough. Given that the social sciences provide the general framework of reference for human action, better integration of the ethical dimension by these disciplines would bring about additional benefits. In particular, economic theory would gain from developing more in-depth reflection on human end-goals and values.Calculativeness; Capitalism; Corporate social responsibility; Economics; Virtue Ethics

Manager Unethical Behavior During The New Economy Bubble

This paper investigates factors that brought about the surge in manager unethical behavior within the US economy. Key structural causes are the weak internal control, perverse incentives related to managers’ compensation, conflicts of interest in the banking and auditing sectors. Unethical behavior was further enhanced by the large economic noise specific to the IT bubble, which emerged in the late nineties against the background of increased deregulation in the goods and financial markets. The US administration opposed to the proliferation of CEO unethical behavior the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; we argue why some of its provisions might be taken one step furtherUnethical behavior; CEOs; Financial deregulation; Activism; Sarbanes-Oxely Act

Four Myths and a Financial Crisis

The main driving force of the financial crisis of 2007-2009 was a rapid deterioration of the trust of private agents in the quality of financial institutions. In turn, this loss of confidence entailed the collapse of several key asset markets and a sharp decline in the other asset prices. This paper surveys the critical moments of the crisis, puts forward some of the shock amplifying mechanisms and comments on the effectiveness of various policy measures. The conclusion opens the debate on what structural changes in the existing financial architecture are required to contain such crises in the future.Banking Sector ; Economic Myths ; Economic Policy ; Financial Crisis ; Trust

Opening the Capital Account of Transition Economies: How Much and How Fast

In the late eighties, many developing countries followed the example of the most advanced countries and opened their capital account (K.A.) in an attempt to reap new gains from increased integration with the world economy. By 2000, after the wave of financial and currency crises that hurt the global economy in the last decade, enthusiasm about K.A. liberalization has much faded. Firstly, the relationship between development and capital account liberalization did not come out to be as solid as initially expected; secondly, greater capital mobility has brought about increased global financial instability. New thinking in international economics calls for proper sequencing in opening the K.A.: liberalization should proceed in step with progress in macroeconomic stability, structural reform and creation of a sound internal financial system. In this paper, we analyze to what extent and at what pace should transition economies carry out the K.A. liberalization process.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39896/3/wp511.pd

Public Finance and Low Equilibria in Transition Economies; The Role of Institutions

This paper develops two stylised models of the transitional economy that challenge to some extent, the conventional approach to policy-reforms. In the first model, the absence of market-oriented institutions is responsible for the occurrence of a non-cooperative equilibrium, where the amount of public services provided by the state is too low, which, in turn, adversely affects the global performance of the productive sector. In the second model, the government, which aims to maximise tax receipts, will choose a taxation level that pushes too many firms out of the market; hence the global supply falls below its optimal level. In both models, strain and disruptions specific to transitional systems lead to abnormal responses of the real sector to standard policy measures. Efficient economic policies should explicitly take into account the institutional deficit.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39703/3/wp319.pd

Subduing High Inflation in Romania. How to Better Monetary and Exchange Rate Mechanisms?

Romania's overall economic performance during the first ten years of transition can be termed so far as disappointing: the country has not been able to deliver steady growth, low unemployment and low inflation. This paper focuses on the effectiveness of monetary mechanisms and policies during this period. Special emphasis is set on the exchange rate mechanism. The first part of the text develops a short introduction to relevant monetary theory in the transition context. In the second part, we analyse the stylised facts pertaining to Romanian economy and put forward some weaknesses of its banking system and monetary policies. The conclusion presents a set of recommendations for a reform of the going monetary policy.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39786/3/wp402.pd