The Association of Christian Economists

An Academic Society for Christians in the Economics Profession

  • Home
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Archives
  • Podcast
  • Membership
    • My Account
    • Join ACE
  • Log In

Against Market Complicity – Tiemstra

FAITH & ECONOMICS
NUMBER 72, Fall 2018

VIEWPOINT

Against Market Complicity

Abstract: The doctrine of market complicity holds that entering into a trading relationship causes each party to take on some moral responsibility for the other parties’ actions. For example, consumers who buy goods made in sweatshops are guilty of abusing workers, and employers are guilty if their employees use their health insurance to terminate a pregnancy. I argue that this is not the case. The market nexus does not cause us to take on moral responsibility for decisions we are not empowered to make. Vendors should not discriminate against buyers with different religious or moral views, and employers should not try to constrain their employees’ personal moral choices. Consumer boycotts are unlikely to be effective unless they make political demands.

Keywords: Market Complicity, Boycotts

John P. Tiemstra
Calvin College

Full-Text PDF

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Print
February 28, 2019

Post navigation

Review of: Men Without Work – Wescher → ← Is There a Moral Case for Globalization? – Weisman

Journal and Website Search

Browse Recent Articles

Editor’s Introduction: COVID-19 and Economic Calculation

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 75, Spring 2020 Editor’s Introduction: COVID-19 and Economic Calculation Steven McMullenHope CollegeExecutive Editor, Faith & Economics Full-Text PDF

More Info

Review of: Why Liberalism Failed – McMullen

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 73, Spring 2019 Book Review Why Liberalism FailedBy Patrick Deneen Reviewed bySteven McMullenHope College Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of: The Tyranny of Metrics – Hübner

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 73, Spring 2019 Book Review The Tyranny of MetricsBy Jerry Z. Muller Reviewed byJamin HübnerThe University of the People Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of: Counting the Cost – Conover

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 73, Spring 2019 Book Review Counting the Cost: Christian Perspectives on CapitalismBy Art Lindsley and Anne Bradley Reviewed byRoger B. ConoverAzusa Pacific University [...]

More Info

Review of: Return to Order – Cooper

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 73, Spring 2019 Book Review Return to OrderBy John Horvat II Reviewed byKristen CooperGordon College Full Text PDF

More Info

Moral Tribes and Moral Concerns in Public Policy – Chiteji

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 73, Spring 2019 Moral Tribes and Moral Concerns in Public Policy This paper is part of a review symposium on Joshua Greene’s Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and [...]

More Info

The Language of Utilitarianism in Economics and the Public Square – Hamersma

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 73, Spring 2019 The Language of Utilitarianism in Economics and the Public Square This paper is part of a review symposium on Joshua Greene’s Moral Tribes: [...]

More Info

The Cost of Being Faithful: What do Farmers Give Up to Keep the Sabbath? – Rosburg, Griffin, and Coffey

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 73, SPRING 2019 The Cost of Being Faithful: What do Farmers Give Up to Keep the Sabbath? Britney Rosburg, Terry W. Griffin, and Brian CoffeyKansas State University [...]

More Info

Feedback

Any questions or feedback regarding site content or your membership account can be sent to the ACE webmaster.

Navigation

  • My Account
    • Membership Billing
    • Membership Cancel
    • Membership Checkout
    • Membership Confirmation
    • Membership Invoice
    • Join ACE
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Archives
    • Instructions for Authors
  • Membership
  • Home
  • Archives – Old Issues
  • Podcast

Connect with ACE

Powered by WordPress | theme SG Double