Tepper Economics & Ethics Book Club

Economics and Ethics were once one subject. Adam Smith, for instance, wrote on ethics (e.g., The theory of moral sentiments) as well as economics (e.g., The wealth of nations). In Tepper Econ & Ethics Book Club, we strive to learn from each other's perspective.

Organizers: Tae Wan Kim & Laurence Ales

Upcoming Book:

Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David Chalmers

Copies can be found in the CMU Library

  • 4th Meeting: Anthony B. Atkinson's INEQUALITY

    March 10, 2020

    Laurence and I recommend the British economist Anthony B. Atkinson’s “Inequality” to escape into when the world is in despair – or when you’re in quarantine. We will send out another email to find out the best date for the book club meeting, whether online or offline. Please don’t hesitate to reach out one of us if you have any questions.

    Also consider Sridhar Tayur’s suggestion, “Read Harry Frankfurt’s short book, Inequality, too.”

    Laurence Ales

    Tae Wan Kim

  • 3rd Meeting: Jason Brennan & Peter M. Jaworski’s MARKETS WITHOUT LIMITS

    October 24, 2018

    Jason Brennan and Peter M. Jaworski’s Markets without limits contains thought-provoking criticisms of Michael Sandel’s What money can’t buy and Debra Satz’s Why some things should not be for sale. For the upcoming book club meeting, we are planning to discuss Chapters 1 and 2 of Markets without limits.

    If you want to attend the meeting, please vote here to decide a date.

    For questions, contact Tae Wan Kim (twkim@andrew.cmu.edu) or Laurence Ales (ales@andrew.cmu.edu).

  • 2nd Meeting: Jean Tirole's ECONOMICS FOR THE COMMON GOOD

    March 8, 2018

    We are going to discuss a recipient of Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Jean Tirole's Economics for the Common Good (only Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2) in the second book club meeting.

    Date: April 11, 11:30-12:30 (You can bring your lunch)

    Place: TBD

    In the first meeting, Laurence Ales, Sridhar Tayur, John Hooker, Taya Cohen and me discussed why the homo economicus model is still used in economics whereas other social sciences reject the model. In particular, we discussed whether assumptions of the Revelation Principle are sound.

  • 1st Meeting: Samuel Bowles's WHY GOOD INCENTIVES ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD CITIZENS

    The first book is Economist Samuel Bowles's The Moral Economy: Why Good Incentives Are No Substitute for Good Citizens.

    Date and Time: Please email to Tae Wan (twkim at andrew.cmu.edu).