Re: What is this thing called love?

[Robert Scott Gassler]

There is a small but interesting literature on the economics of love, altruism, morality, and so on. My Beyond Profit and Self-Interest, chapter 6, has a short summary with bibliographic references.

For example:

Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments
Kenneth Boulding, The Economy of Love and Fear
David Collard, Altruism and Economics
Amitai Etzioni, The Moral Dimension

These writings contrast with the usual economists' cynicism about motives by assuming that non-selfish motives are possible and exploring their implications.

At 20:49 14/03/04 -0800, you wrote:

>Porter is prety cold-eyed about love, which was my
>point to Joanna. He's the fella that wrote Love For
>Sale, among others.

Electric eels, I might add, do it
Though it shocks 'em I know
Why ask if shad do it
Waiter, bring me shadroe


Tom Walker
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Robert Scott Gassler
Professor of Economics
Vesalius College of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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