A Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 18 “Conclusion: Still Spinning After All These Years” I have really enjoyed this book because Foster is asking the questions I have had. Why do we bite the Invisible Hand? Why are people not more aware or concerned that…
Category: Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Philanthrocapitalism Pleases the Donors; Policies are Pushed onto the Recipients
Part 2 of a Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 17 “Bill Gates and the Pitfalls of Philanthrocapitalism” Foster next turns to Bill Gates’ call for a “creative capitalism” that he saw as a new form that would merge the ideas of caring for others…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
No Need for Philanthrocapitalism, Serving Others’ Needs Is Already Built into Capitalism
A Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 17 “Bill Gates and the Pitfalls of Philanthrocapitalism” In this chapter, Foster turns his attention to philanthrocapitalism. It is some combination of charity somehow wrapped up in capitalist behavior. The most well-known current example is likely the Bill &…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Using a Green Wrapper and Moralistic Hyperbole to Cover Anti-Capitalism
A Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 16 “The Greenest Businessman in America” Foster examines the expression of anti-capitalism through the promotion of environmentalism in this chapter. He focuses on one businessman in particular, but uses him as an example to suggest that the movement…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Corporate Social Responsibility Is Irresponsible
Part 2 of a Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 15 “Global Salvationism” Foster is flipping a popular narrative about the problem of big business on its head in this part of the chapter. Such fears have led to calls for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but it…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Beyond Good Intentions: We Need to Be Saved from the Saviors of Global Salvationism
Part 1 of a Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 15 “Global Salvationism” In an earlier chapter, Foster refers to the work of economist David Henderson who developed the idea of DIYE, do-it-yourself-economics, which is a compilation of subconscious, erroneous ideas that many people hold…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
The Economic Denialism Built into Climate Change
A Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 14 “Moral Climate” I find this chapter a fascinating explanation of the histrionics that surround the climate change topic. I don’t want to get into whether it is man-made or not, real or hoax, but I do want…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
The Deep, Dark Roots of Politics: Using Others to Help Ourselves
A Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 13 “The Chimpanzee in the Room: Darwinian Politics” In an earlier chapter, Foster has discussed the origins of the instinct to trade. While trading seems natural to people, the disconnected and abstract modern economic system today challenges our…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Economic Statistics Boost the Illusion of Control
Part 3 of a Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 12 “Homer Economicus” Foster asserts that anti-capitalists have long feared that people’s desire to raise their standard of living would devolve into envy-driven conspicuous consumption that would trump virtue. (p. 264) Related to this criticism…
Why We Bite the Invisible Hand
Do We Want the Government Nudging Us?
Part 2 of a Discussion of Peter Foster’s Why We Bite the Invisible Hand Chapter 12 “Homer Economicus” In the last blog, we explored Foster’s critique of behavioral economics, and now we will see how its incorrect diagnosis of the problems in economics has led to conclusions for more economic…