EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altruism | 51 comments (51 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altrui (4.00 / 2)

Welcome to Eurotrib and thanks for an interesting diary!

A thought: isn't one of the common arguments against the welfare state precisely that it reduces people's compulsion to be charitable and makes them act in a more selfish manner, knowing that the state will assist its weakest members?

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm (michael<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Thu Jul 26th, 2007 at 10:18:18 AM EST

Re: EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altrui (4.00 / 2)

Is there any reason I should do anything other than consider that argument as insanely stupid?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 27th, 2007 at 09:03:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altrui (none / 1)

That's my personal opinion of most arguments against the welfare state, though I try not to phrase it quite like that in public. It's out of the "We have to fight them over there, so we don't have to fight them over here" school of argumentation. Which is a bit too effective for me to have complete faith in humanity.

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm (michael<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Fri Jul 27th, 2007 at 10:20:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altrui (4.00 / 2)

Why do we have to pretend to take these arguments seriously?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 27th, 2007 at 10:24:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altrui (none / 0)

It provides hours worth of entertainment?

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm (michael<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Fri Jul 27th, 2007 at 10:31:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altrui (none / 1)

In much the same way as whacking yourself on the head with a telephone directory.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 27th, 2007 at 10:32:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: EC101 revisited - Mixing Economics with Altrui (none / 0)

We all have our guilty pleasures...

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde