Francesco Farina – författare

The connection between economics and ethics is as old as economics itself, and central to both disciplines. It is an issue that has recently attracted much interest from economists and philosophers. The connection is, in part, a result of the desire of economists to make policy prescriptions, which clearly require some normative criteria. More deeply, much economic theory is founded on the assumption of utility maximization, thereby creating an immediate connection between the foundations of economics and the philosophical literature on utilitarianism and reasons for action. In fact, some influential contemporary approaches to ethics advocate decision-theoretic or game-theoretic foundations of some sort for moral principles, while several economic theorists are now prepared to take into account the ethical dimensions of rational decisions. As a result, it appears that economics and ethics are somehow inextricably linked through theories of rational decision-making.Most of us would probably find it disturbing to concede that there are contradictions between the prescriptions of rationality and the requirements of moral `rightness'. The essays included in the present volume provide a detailed analysis of the connections between ethics and economics as viewed from several different - sometimes conflicting - perspectives. This book, the outcome of a joint meeting of philosophers and economists, has three main themes: the validity of utilitarianism much used by economists, the notion of fairness and equity, and the coherence of the rationality postulate of economics. The book does not reach any final conclusions, but it greatly illuminates the exact areas of possible disagreement and indeed the open-ended nature of ethical reasoning. There is much that economists, and especially welfare economists, can learn from these papers - not least circumspection.

Internationally, globalization and increased economic integration has impacted quality of life and individual well-being. Attempts to evaluate the impact on income dispersion from this process have been extremely controversial. This key volume is the first real attempt to build up indices and a theoretical framework in order to deal with inequality of opportunity, and to enable social and political institutions to monitor increasing disparities in well-being and social exclusion. It thoroughly examines the possible relationships between the recent acceleration in economic integration and inequality among persons and countries and will enable social and political institutions to monitor increasing disparities in well-being and social exclusion.The contributions to this volume cover various subfields of economics, and examine both the negative and positive spillover effects of economic integration on individuals, social groups and nations. Since the impact of globalization on the most deprived people is multidimensional in nature, the theoretical framework is extended to a multivariate context where several individual characteristics are simultaneously considered.This original volume covers many important topics and features an impressive array of respected contributors. As such, it is sure to be an invaluable resource for postgraduates and professionals in the fields of political economy and economics.

Providing readers with a multi-faceted assessment of the implementation of fiscal policies in the euro zone and their macroeconomic effects five years after the inception of the euro, this book, international in perspective and scope, is the first reliable reference source for discussions in this area for both academics and policy makers.Comprising contributions from distinguished researchers from different European countries and institutions the issues addressed include the: monetary and fiscal policy-mixevolution and control of fiscal aggregates over the business cycle and their implications for the SGP rulesaccountability of debt evolutionfinancial spill-over of national fiscal policiesmeasurement and assessment of automatic stabilizers.Based on empirical evidence as well as being firmly rooted in theoretical analyses and giving particular emphasis to the constraint of the Stability and Growth Pact on the one hand and the presence of a single monetary policy on the other, this book is an invaluable tool students and researchers engaged with macroeconomic stabilization and monetary and fiscal policy interactions, as well as professionals in the public sector and the financial institutions of the EU.

Internationally, globalization and increased economic integration has impacted quality of life and individual well-being. Attempts to evaluate the impact on income dispersion from this process have been extremely controversial. This key volume is the first real attempt to build up indices and a theoretical framework in order to deal with inequality of opportunity, and to enable social and political institutions to monitor increasing disparities in well-being and social exclusion. It thoroughly examines the possible relationships between the recent acceleration in economic integration and inequality among persons and countries and will enable social and political institutions to monitor increasing disparities in well-being and social exclusion.The contributions to this volume cover various subfields of economics, and examine both the negative and positive spillover effects of economic integration on individuals, social groups and nations. Since the impact of globalization on the most deprived people is multidimensional in nature, the theoretical framework is extended to a multivariate context where several individual characteristics are simultaneously considered.This original volume covers many important topics and features an impressive array of respected contributors. As such, it is sure to be an invaluable resource for postgraduates and professionals in the fields of political economy and economics.

Providing readers with a multi-faceted assessment of the implementation of fiscal policies in the euro zone and their macroeconomic effects five years after the inception of the euro, this book, international in perspective and scope, is the first reliable reference source for discussions in this area for both academics and policy makers.Comprising contributions from distinguished researchers from different European countries and institutions the issues addressed include the: monetary and fiscal policy-mixevolution and control of fiscal aggregates over the business cycle and their implications for the SGP rulesaccountability of debt evolutionfinancial spill-over of national fiscal policiesmeasurement and assessment of automatic stabilizers.Based on empirical evidence as well as being firmly rooted in theoretical analyses and giving particular emphasis to the constraint of the Stability and Growth Pact on the one hand and the presence of a single monetary policy on the other, this book is an invaluable tool students and researchers engaged with macroeconomic stabilization and monetary and fiscal policy interactions, as well as professionals in the public sector and the financial institutions of the EU.