Freedom, Equality, and the Many Futures of Commodification

Abstract:     
Is everything for sale? Or is there a realm of sacred things and relationships outside the market? Classic texts on commodification tend to fall into two camps. People who support the recognition of legal markets in adoption, human organs, military service, and votes, and everything else generally feel they are defending freedom of contract - people's freedom to buy and sell whatever they wish. In contrast, people who question whether markets in parental rights or body parts (as well as intellectual property, identity, religious standing, or homemaking labor) worry about other values notably equality, dignity, and solidarity. In both pro- and anti-commodification camps, the instinct is to frame discussions in terms of an on-off decision about whether or not to commodify. This book familiarizes readers with the traditional commodification debate, and offers a solution to the impasse in sharp new writings that move beyond the on-off question of whether or not to commodify.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 12

Keywords: Commodification, markets, property, family, inalienability

Accepted Paper Series