Summary of James R. Otteson's Seven Deadly Economic Sins

Download or read book Summary of James R. Otteson's Seven Deadly Economic Sins written by Milkyway Media and published by Milkyway Media. This book was released on 2022-04-21 with total page 8 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 While it is true that markets are competitive, and that some firms will succeed and others will fail, this does not have to be a negative thing. Because markets are positivesum, not zerosum, the wealth they create is positivesum as well. #2 There are two main ways to get something from someone: by taking it forcibly from them, or by defrauding them and promising to pay them in the future but not doing so. These are examples of zerosum exchanges. #3 Until about 1800, the average person’s percapita wealth was extremely low, between $1 and $3 per day. But there is another way to get what you want from another person: make an offer of exchange that the other party is free to accept or decline. If both parties benefit from the exchange, it is a positivesum exchange. #4 The morally superior way to deal with others is to engage in cooperative exchanges instead of extractive ones. This was a great leap forward in human morality, and it has become clear that the only properly moral way to deal with others is to treat them as equals in dignity and agency.