Do you consider gasoline to be a gift from God? You should. Andy Crouch, editorial director of the Christian Vision Project at Christianity Today, writes in a recent Books & Culture piece, “As our family sits together, eyes closed, we say grace. Today it’s Timothy’s turn. ‘God, thank you so much for all we have,’ he begins in what turns into a typically prolix nine-year-old’s prayer. Eventually he is done—’in Jesus’ name, Amen’—and I turn the key. We have just...

At last year’s Acton University, a few Austrian attendees made an interesting youtube video celebrating their rediscovery of the huge and obvious contributions Austria has made to free-market economics. But what about the countries that don’t have an entire school of economic thought named after them? My conversations with international participants at this year’s conference underscored two themes over and over again. First, that even the unlikeliest countries have some philosophical heritage undergirding capitalist thought. Second, that AU attracts the...

On today’s Diane Rehm Show, a panel of experts discussed the pending energy policy legislation in the US Congress. Karen Wayland, legislative director of the Natural Resources Defense Counsel talked about the need to join the concepts of national security and climate change when discussing energy policy (RealAudio). From her perspective, these two concerns are tied up together and shouldn’t be separated, in part because if you take energy independence and national security alone, you might think that reliance on...

Today’s Dilbert is a good one: “green” consulting, Dogbert-style. ...

In today’s NYT: “Oxfam Suggests Benefit in Africa if U.S. Cuts Cotton Subsidies.” “Eliminating billions of dollars in federal subsidies to American cotton growers each year would reduce American cotton production and exports, raise world prices by about 10 percent and modestly improve the es of millions of poor cotton farmers in Africa, according to a new study by Oxfam, the aid group.” About how many other industries could a similar thing be said? It’s also good to see that...

Acton University 2007 came to a close this evening with another stirring address by Rev. Robert Sirico which capped a great week in Grand Rapids for all involved. It’s getting late and I can’t hope to top what Father Robert had to say this evening, so I’ll refer all of you to the audio link below. It’s always a relief when e to the end of what is without a doubt the busiest week of the year for Acton’s Grand...

As developing countries turn increasingly to private capital markets, the World Bank is facing not only a steep decline in demand for its loans but a crisis of relevancy. Sam Gregg looks at the changing market and how the rules of private lending might also provide a better check on corruption in the developing world. Adieu, World Bank? Read mentary here. ...

Here is an index of posts from last week’s Acton University: “What is Man?” Why the Answer Profoundly Matters (June 13)Integrity, Virtue and Vision in the World of Business (June 14)More Sights and Sounds at Acton University (June 15)Protestantism and Natural Law Theory (June 15)Economic Myths and Emergent Christian Thought (June 16) ...

This post will be updated and bumped as more audio es available. Newer audio appears at the bottom of the list. Economic Liberty in Catholic Social Teaching: Kishore JayabalanCompeting Visions of Business: Michael MillerSixteenth-Century Protestant Moral Theologians: Stephen GrabillCatholic Social Teaching: Basic Principles: Stephen Haessler NOTE: This is a re-post; the audio link from a previous post has been corrected.Poverty in the Developing World: Michael Miller NOTE: Due to a recording error, the end of this lecture is slightly truncated.Africa:...

Lawrence Lessig, a legal scholar and high-profile advocate of copyright reform, has decided to “shift my academic work, and soon, my activism, away from the issues that have consumed me for the last 10 years, towards a new set of issues.” His new task? “‘Corruption’ as I’ve defined it elsewhere will be the focus of my work. For at least the next 10 years, it is the problem I will try to help solve.” Just how does Lessig define “corruption”?...