The Economic Approach to Personality, Character and Virtue

James Heckman, Bridget Galaty and Haihan Tian ()
Additional contact information
Bridget Galaty: University of Chicago
Haihan Tian: University of Chicago

No 16133, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This chapter presents an economic approach to character and personality traits with an application to the study of virtue. Economists interpret psychological traits, including character traits and virtue, as strategies that shape responses to situations (actions) determined by underlying endowments, preferences and resources, as well as incentives to act in situations. Philosophers of virtue consider a more limited set of goals than economists but the same tools can be applied to the economics of virtue ethics. Character traits and personality are not considered immutable in either field. They are shaped by genetics, parents, peers, and schools, as well as life experiences. We develop economic models to interpret and give empirical content to virtue ethics and suggest what virtue ethics contributes to the study of economic models.

Keywords: traits; philosophy; ethics; economic models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I24 J13 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 83 pages
Date: 2023-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-hpe, nep-lma and nep-ltv
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: The Economic Approach to Personality, Character and Virtue (2023)
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