IEA - Catholic-Christian perspective on government and the market

28 May 2014 09:53 AM

A practical re-appraisal of how Christians should think about economic and political issues

 

Christians should not turn to government for solutions to economic problems

In a new publication by the Institute of Economic Affairs*, an international team of authors* provides a fresh Catholic-Christian perspective on the role of the government and the market. The book focuses on a number of topical issues, including: the provision of welfare, education, aid to developing countries, the financial crisis, environmental problems as well as business and consumer ethics.

Long-held interpretations of Church teaching on foreign aid and the minimum wage are criticised within the book, the argument being made that many Catholic commentators take too little account of official church teaching and economic realities when giving advice to Catholics on political and economic matters.

Catholic Social Teaching and the Market Economy celebrates entrepreneurship and business, arguing that the moral problems of consumerism and materialism are better solved through the creation of an appropriate ethical culture as opposed to government regulation.

Key points made by the authors include:

 

 

 

 

 

Key recommendations:

 

 

 

The second edition of Catholic Social Teaching and the Market Economy provides a practical re-appraisal of how Christians should think about economic and political issues, updated and extended to cover a number of important issues that concern all Christians.

Notes to Editors:

To arrange an interview with an IEA spokesperson, please contact:

·    & nbsp;    Camilla Goodwin, Communications Officer: cgoodwin@iea.org.uk or 07821 971 443.

·    & nbsp;    Stephanie Lis, Head of Communications: slis@iea.org.uk or 07766 221 268.

Catholic Social Teaching and the Market Economy – Revised Second Edition by Philip Booth can be purchased from the IEA bookstore at http://www.iea.org.uk/publications/co-published-books and downloaded from ourwebsite.

Philip Booth is Editorial and Programme Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs and Professor of Insurance and Risk Management at the Cass Business School where he was formerly Associate Dean. He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Durham and a PhD in Finance. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and the Royal Statistical Society.

As with all IEA publications, the views expressed are those of the authors and not those of the Institute (which has no corporate view), its managing trustees, Academic Advisory Council or senior staff.

The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.

The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.

 

*The second edition of Catholic Social Teaching and the Market Economy is a much expanded and updated version of a previous book, published in 2007, which critically examines the case for state intervention in the economic sphere from a Catholic perspective.

*The second edition of Catholic Social Teaching and the Market Economy brings together a number of authors from around the world: Samuel Gregg, Kishore Jayabalan, Robert Kennedy, Michael Miller, Denis O’Brien, Dennis O’Keeffe, Anthony Percy, Robert A. Sirico, Thomas woods and Andrew Yuengert. The foreword is written by John Kennedy and Preface by Leonard P. Liggio.