Bart Wilson — Rethinking Wealth: The Moral Roots of Prosperity

Episode Summary

In this episode of Mindful Money, I talk with Bart Wilson about the often-overlooked moral dimension of economics. We explore Adam Smith’s forgotten insights on justice and beneficence, how values shape innovation and prosperity, and why genuine wealth is created through collaboration—not extraction. It’s a thoughtful, hopeful conversation about money’s deeper purpose.

Show Notes

Bart J. Wilson is a Professor of Economics and Law and the Donald P. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Economics and Law at Chapman University. He is a member of the Economic Science Institute, with joint tenured appointments in the Argyros College of Business and Economics and the Fowler School of Law. In 2016, he founded the Smith Institute for Political Economy and Philosophy, where he serves as the director. Bart has published papers widely in economics and general science journals, and is the author of Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human; The Property Species: Mine, Yours, and the Human Mind; and Humanomics: Moral Sentiments and the Wealth of Nations for the Twenty-First Century.

I talk with Bart about the moral roots of prosperity. We revisit Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments and how justice, beneficence, and collaboration make economic growth possible. Bart shares lessons from his farm upbringing, why commerce is more than self-interest, and how innovation thrives when we respect equality and trust. We also discuss AI, the hidden goodness in markets, and why gifts carry obligations that bind communities together. This conversation reframes economics as a profoundly human endeavor—one that can guide us toward more mindful wealth and purpose.

Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human: https://www.amazon.com/Meaningful-Economics-Making-Science-Prosperity/dp/0197758150 

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