Abstract

Grand Theft Auto: The Immorality of Business Subsidies

Paul A. Cleveland
Birmingham-Southern College

Journal of Markets and Morality, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 58-66, Spring 2000

Abstract:
Much energy has been expended discussing how jobs and economic growth might best be secured. In this debate, one theory suggests that it is necessary to subsidize potential businesses heavily in order to spark economic activity and thus gain wealth. The underlying idea here is that such economic activity would not occur if it were not promoted by political action. However, this conclusion is unwarranted and is espoused by abandoning a sound economic and ethical analysis. This article examines the fundamental economic and ethical principles that bolster such thinking.

Keywords: business, subsidies, morality, wealth, ethics

JEL Classifications: M14, L2, H24

Accepted Paper Series

Date posted: August 08, 2006 ; Last revised: August 08, 2006

Suggested Citation

Cleveland, Paul A., Grand Theft Auto: The Immorality of Business Subsidies. Journal of Markets and Morality, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 58-66, Spring 2000. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=922720

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Contact Information

Paul A. Cleveland (Contact Author)

Birmingham-Southern College ( email )

Birmingam, AL 35254
United States