An essay by Professor Yoshinori Hiroi entitled “Economics and Ethics” was published in the “Words of Our Time” column in the evening edition of the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper (July 31st, 2019 edition).

An essay by Professor Yoshinori Hiroi entitled “Economics and Ethics” was published in the “Words of Our Time” column in the evening edition of the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper (July 31st, 2019 edition). In the pre-modern era, “economics” and “ethics”, which now seem to be in opposition with one another, were considered to be connected.

Like Eichi Shibusawa’s book Analects and the Abacus and the social work of business people at that time, economics and ethics were connected, even at the dawn of capitalism in Japan. Although they eventually grew to be disparate fields, in recent years a trend has emerged that can be called a “re-fusion of economics and ethics.” This includes things such as “social business” and the “social entrepreneurship” engaged in by the younger generation.

This column discusses these issues in relation to structural changes in the economy and society.

“Economics and Ethics” by Professor Yoshinori Hiroi in the “Words of Our Time” column (only in Japanese)

2019/09/26