Maria Francesca Burger Philosophy – Essay 522626
Date 12-04-2020 IB04A
Moral Market Behaviour
As Falk and Szech(2013) showed in their paper, our willingness to kill to receive money is higher if
we trade in groups, where we are less reluctant to create negative externalities. Thus one should
wonder: Are market transactions having similar effects? We hardly have an overview of who is
affected by our trading choices. It seems like an “invisible hand” as Adam Smith would say, moves
our fundamental pillars of society. Yet, there are many examples where markets fail to provide
moral outcomes which makes it an important topic to discuss.
First, I will discuss about the possibilities of stimulating moral market behaviour and their attached
limitations. Then, I will show the relativity of the contemplated motivations. After that, I will take a
stand as to why we should engage in moral market behaviour. Lastly, follow my concluding remarks.
I will argue that there are several ways of encouraging individuals and corporations moral behaviour
in markets where the most efficient ones reach the largest part of society. Furthermore, every
motivation is morally appropriate and suitable, as long as the final goal is morally appropriate. Moral
market behaviours should be encouraged, because not doing so has negative consequences on the
environment and society, such as pollution and child labour.
Date 12-04-2020 IB04A
Moral Market Behaviour
As Falk and Szech(2013) showed in their paper, our willingness to kill to receive money is higher if
we trade in groups, where we are less reluctant to create negative externalities. Thus one should
wonder: Are market transactions having similar effects? We hardly have an overview of who is
affected by our trading choices. It seems like an “invisible hand” as Adam Smith would say, moves
our fundamental pillars of society. Yet, there are many examples where markets fail to provide
moral outcomes which makes it an important topic to discuss.
First, I will discuss about the possibilities of stimulating moral market behaviour and their attached
limitations. Then, I will show the relativity of the contemplated motivations. After that, I will take a
stand as to why we should engage in moral market behaviour. Lastly, follow my concluding remarks.
I will argue that there are several ways of encouraging individuals and corporations moral behaviour
in markets where the most efficient ones reach the largest part of society. Furthermore, every
motivation is morally appropriate and suitable, as long as the final goal is morally appropriate. Moral
market behaviours should be encouraged, because not doing so has negative consequences on the
environment and society, such as pollution and child labour.
