Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name:Konstantin Yanovskiy
Author-Name-First: Konstantin   
Author-Name-Last: Yanovskiy 
Author-Workplace-Name: Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy
Author-Name:Sergey Shulgin 
Author-Name-First: Sergey        
Author-Name-Last: Shulgin 
Author-Workplace-Name:Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
Title:  “OLD TESTAMENT” MORALITY AND THE “TRADITIONAL” FAMILY
Abstract: In this paper we consider questions of morality as a factor impacting trust in society, as an important element of the “soft” infrastructure. Morality is the institution which, if it is maintained in an appropriate condition, is capable of significantly raising the efficacy level of the basal institutions, including the institution of private property. Morality is often gestured toward in political and research discussions, for instance, for purposes of eliminating or establishing artificial borders and constraints upon freedom of discussion.  Morality raises the level of trust among market agents, both among those directly acquainted with each other and among those who have never met each other before but hold the same moral views in common. Besides, morality lowers the costs of constructing and implementation of formal institutions which protect private property, as well as institutions friendly to the market. The Government’s pushing out the institution of the family and societal morality is largely bound up with the common mechanism for transferring individual responsibility to society, and the responsibility of society to the Government. The Government is interested in maximum resource use and maximal control. Bringing Government controls to a maximum possible level runs counter to the existence of any limitations, among which morality is the most powerful and most stable one. The foundation of the “liberation” of the individual from responsibility and from morality hails from the stimuli spawned by the institution of universal suffrage.
Length:  44 pages
Creation-Date: 2013
Revision-Date:   2013
Classification-JEL: B41, B52, J12, K36, H56, Z12
Keywords: soft infrastructure, universal moral values, to support private property, to deter redistribution; moral arguments vs. economic efficiency.
File-URL: https://www.iep.ru/files/RePEc/gai/wpaper/0080Yanovskiy.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: Revised version, 2013
Handle: RePEc:gai:wpaper:0080