1
2
3 4
5
6
Next
 |
Institutions
and Economic Development
Tuesday, 17 April 2008
1993 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics laureate
Douglass
C. North speaks on the formation of human societies.
Restricted social orders continue to be the norm
in most of the contemporary world. These limited
access societies are ruled by elites through monopolies
or rents. These coalitions are based on personal
ties, hence he calls such societies “natural”
states. However, a number of countries have developed
into open access societies where competition in
economic and political markets, instead of rent-creation,
sustains civil order.
The challenge therefore is how to transit from
a limited access society into an open access one.
He explains that the answer is not deliberately
imposing the characteristics of a free society
on a restricted one. What is needed is to encourage
a limited access society towards maturity by working
within the constraints of its cultural heritage,
informal norms and belief systems.
Read more on the natural state here.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
The
Role of Civil Society in Philippine Democracy
Tuesday, 31 March 2008
National Institute for Policy Studies President
Mario Taguiwalo
explains the economic and social background
that gives birth to Philippine civil society. He
expounds on its rise during the Marcos dictatorship
and its continued flourishing in restored democracy.
He speaks of civil society as the central channel
of engaging politicians due to the lack of ideologically
based political parties in the country.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
Liberalism
and Morality: Capitalism and Christian Values
Tuesday, 05 February 2008
The final part of this installment has Fr. Robert
Sirico touching upon the correlation between business
ethics and corruption. He explains that personal
corruption is one reality, but that it is institutional
corruption which forces the lack of business ethics.
This occurs when the political apparatus extends
into the private sphere.
Fr. Sirico elaborates on the Church’s teaching
of subsidiarity which states that needs are best
met at the local level. Individuals have the responsibility
to address their own needs. It is only when individuals
are not able to accomplish this, that they must
look towards the next level on the ladder of social
organization. The highest level (the state) should
only intervene when there is great need, and this
intervention should only be temporary. As a result,
limiting bureaucratic interference in the private
arena would reduce corruption and make society
more efficient.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
Liberalism
and Morality: Economics, Liberty and Morality
Thursday,
17 January 2008
Fr. Robert Sirico discusses how economics, liberty
and morality center on the human person. A free
environment creates opportunities that allow him
to choose and harness resources. Criticism against
economics arises because many choices are based
on subjective values. However, it is a misconception
to understand morality as relativistic. Virtue is
something consistent across all humanity. Morality
underlines the responsibility to create a flourishing
society that is worthy of human dignity.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
Liberalism
and Morality: The Call of the Entrepreneur
Thursday,
17 January 2008
The second instalment of this series features Fr.
Robert Sirico’s commentary on the film:
The Call of the Entrepreneur as well as portions
of the open forum that followed. Fr. Sirico discusses
the value that business brings to a society. He
explains that it is through entrepreneurship that
the poor’s hopes are met and their needs are
addressed. He stresses that in order to have this,
liberty is required. Without freedom, the human
spirit and its creativity are discouraged.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
Liberalism
and Morality: A Five-Part Series
Wednesday,
19 December 2007
In this first episode of a five-part series,
Alexandra Cuyegkeng and Siegfried Herzog introduce
Fr. Robert Sirico and Kris A. Mauren, founders
of the Acton
Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty.
Fr. Sirico and Kris explain the reasons behind
establishing the institute and its mission of
reconciling liberalism and morality. They also
talk about their Asian visit and their impressions
of the Philippines.
Alexandra and Siegfried also highlight the Manila
premiere of Acton’s first film: The
Call of the Entrepreneur.
The succeeding instalments will feature excerpts
from Fr. Sirico’s commentary on the film
along with snippets from several of his talks:
“Economics, Liberty and Morality,”
Reconciling Christian Values and Free Market Principles”
and “Capitalism and Christian Values.”
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann and Kevin
MacLeod.
Send
us your comments
|
1
2 3
4
5
6
Next
|
|
|
