Abundant Lemon TreeChristians become very strident, unlovely and unloving over a number of issues - abortion, where some have turned to violence and murder, and Darwin's Theory of Evolution are two that come readily to mind. But, as far as I can recall, there has been no challenge by Christians to the paradigms foundational to modern Economics.
We read our bibles and go to church and pray and frequently talk about God's provision. In western society, we live in cultures where each day we make numerous economic transactions from purchasing our food to internet banking. Our governments have whole departments and their bureaucracies dedicated to economics. People are trained in our educational institutions in the field of Economics. The influence of Economics on our lives is such that it could be said to define us: our social status, our educational qualifications, our occupations. Yet the all pervasive theories go unchallenged.
The basic tenet of modern Economics whether Keynesian or Neoclassical is simple to understand and complex in its application. It states:
"Economics is the study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and distribute them among different people."
(P. A. Samuelson & W. D. Nordhaus, "Economics", McGraw-Hill, 1992)
This is the foundation stone on which the edifice called Economics is built.
Can we look at this sentence in respect of our faith and our belief in a Creator God?
Do we believe, do we accept, that God created scarcity and continues to sustain this planet in scarcity?
Scarcity is not unknown to humanity - drought, seasonal calamity, crop failure, plague, our own misinformed disasters. But is scarcity a prevailing condition across the planet? The answer is no. Resources are not scarce. In fact, our faith and our own knowledge of creation demonstrates there is abundance. We may have to increase knowledge to fully utilise resources but this is unrelated to scarcity or abundance.
And what is that modifying word "different" doing in that sentence. Why doesn't it read:
"...and distribute them among people."
Does the insertion of the word "different" mean that Economics as a discipline or science is happy to differentiate among people and populations, that economic discrimination is something that is tolerated within Economics?
I am not suggesting that Christians wait until they are professional Economists before commenting on this matter. I believe that intelligent people are capable of examining this one foundational sentence, the mindset from which all else is derived. In examining the implications of this sentence on the science of Economics and its impact upon our lives, let us posit another sentence:
"Economics is the study of how societies use abundant resources to produce commodities of community value in accord with creation values and distribute them justly to humanity ."
Which sentence, as a Christian or as a person of faith, would you find reflects your values more closely? Perhaps the sentence I have posited is lacking and you can come up with something better? Then feel free to post.
