The field of “economics” is growing more and more popular according to bestseller lists (Freakonomics), heavily-followed blogs (Tyler Cowen) and must-read columnists (Paul Krugman). Lotsa interesting and thoughtful stuff happening among these thinkers (plus an entertaining dose of snippy in-fighting to keep things lively). I like reading all these guys (and yes they are pretty [...]
Tags:capitalism·Freakonomics·gift economy·Paul Krugman·Tyler Cowan
Several GiveWell fans have recently written about why they have chosen to support VillageReach, the highest-rated charity. Each delves into the philosophical reasoning behind helping humanity and aiding those of us in our global community who have so little. I agree, of course. I’ve given there, too. I’ve also given directly to GiveWell. My choice [...]
Tags:gift economy·GiveWell
Being a capitalist society, we’re far more likely to run into the discombobulating experience where something we think should be proprietary is given away instead. But of course it happens in the other direction, too. Here’s Lewis Hyde’s telling of white Europeans turning the gifts of the Native America Indians into capital: Imagine a scene. [...]
