The Economics of Human Activity Is Maximizing Things

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The idea that economic concerns are independentl should have independent weight is itself a symptom of this disorder. A lot of times yare taking that new job with the higher salary that allows you to have the bigger house, the nicer car and more stuff, means less time for your family or community. And i think economists not intending it, but they become blind to those, to those trat offs very much. The last thing i want to say is, this just broke my heart. I was teaching some of this material in one of my classes, and i had a student who just said, you know, my heart's desire would be te first grade teacher,. That's really what i

Author, economist, and theologian Mary Hirschfeld of Villanova University talks about her book, Aquinas and the Market, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Hirschfeld looks at the nature of our economic activity as buyers and sellers and whether our pursuit of economic growth and material well-being comes at a cost. She encourages a skeptical stance about the ability of more stuff to produce true happiness and/or satisfaction. The conversation includes a critique of economic theory and the aspect of human satisfaction outside the domain of economists.