Economic Ethics for Real Humans : The Contribution of Behavioral Economics to Economic Ethics
Journal
Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik (ZfWU)
ISSN
1439-880X
ISSN-Digital
1862-0043
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Herzog, Lisa
Abstract
This paper discusses how economic ethics can profit from taking into account the results of behavioral economics. In contrast to the neo-classical mainstream of economics, behavioral economics does not presuppose the model of ‘economic man', but explores the ways in which real human beings make economic decisions. The example of akrasia and its effects on old-age saving shows that behavioral economic research opens new fields for economic ethics. A central ethical aspect in this context is the question about the moral autonomy of economic agents. A Rawlsian approach shows that opt-out systems, which take into account typical behavioral tendencies, can, under certain conditions, be a way of combining the desiderata of supporting rational behavior and safe-guarding autonomy
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SHSS - Kulturen, Institutionen, Maerkte (KIM)
Refereed
No
Publisher
Hampp
Publisher place
Mering
Volume
9
Number
1
Start page
112
End page
128
Pages
17
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
211270