Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Black Friday and the Moral Goodness of the Market Economy
Black Friday and the Moral Goodness of the Market Economy
Jul 4, 2026 6:38 AM

“The real question is not does morality inform the market,” says Rev. Gregory Jensen in the second entry of this week’s Acton Commentary, “but whose morality informs the market.”

Consumer disapproval of Black Friday has caused a drop in demand. Consequently, retailers have curtailed their investment in these kinds of sale events. If economics is agnostic as to what motivates the change in demand, as a Christian I can’t be. Retailers are responding to the moral cues of shoppers and so changing their marketing strategy to conform to the moraldemands of consumers.

The full text of the essay can be found here. Subscribe to the free, weekly Acton News & Commentary and other publications here.

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
5 Facts About The Cuban Economy
Now that the U.S. has re-established diplomatic relations with Pearl of the Antilles, interest in Cuba is rising. While there are no crystal balls about Cuba’s future, here are a few things we do know about the island-nation’s economy, thanks to Pew Research. 1. Cuba was doing business with the U.S. even before the embargo was lifted. A partial repeal of the embargo allowed for this, and Cuba really needed food, medical supplies and medicine. 2. Cuba’s economic growth has...
How Reagan Attempted to Use Religious Freedom to Reshape Russia
Earlier this month I argued that the moral center and chief objective of American diplomacy should be the promotion of religious freedom. When a country protects religious liberty it must also, whether it intended to or not, recognize a host of other freedoms, such as the freedom of assembly, freedom of conscience, and freedom of speech. Once these liberties are in place, it es more difficult for a country’s government to maintain a single, totalizing ideology. President Reagan seemed to...
The Value Of School Choice In 4 Easy Pictures
It’s nice when we can take a contentious issue and get right to the heart of it in a few steps. Thanks to The Daily Signal for these graphics on school choice: ...
Religious Activists Hype More Failed Shareholder Measures
The religious shareholders of As You Sow and Calvert Investments are heralding last month’s shareholder vote on greenhouse gas reduction targets as an out-and-out victory. Ummmm … not so fast. Although the press release on the AYS website trumpets: “Shareholders Vote for Greenhouse Gas Reductions at Midwest Utilities,” the facts tell a much different story. Yes, some shareholders did indeed vote in favor of the AYS/CI resolution, but not nearly enough to pass it: Citing climate change impacts and financial...
Audio: Elise Hilton On The Economics Of Global Human Trafficking
Acton Communication Specialist Elise Graveline Hilton has been working hard for quite some time to shed light on the huge—but often hidden—problem of human trafficking. Most recently, she made an appearance on the RealClear Radio Hour podcast with host Bill Frezza to discuss the economics of trafficking both in the United States and around the world. This is another great opportunity to learn the signs of human trafficking so that you can be a part of the solution to this...
Video: Rev. Sirico on What to Expect from Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment
Oceans of ink have already been spilled in the media coverage of Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the environment — and it hasn’t even been released yet. In this reflection, Rev. Robert A. Sirico draws on Catholic social teaching to provide a helpful framework for understanding environmental stewardship. While we wait to find out what’s actually in the new encyclical, expected to be published in June, Acton’s president and co-founder sees a consistent thread of thinking on environmental stewardship that...
Unions Lobbied for a $15 Minimum Wage—Now They Want an Exemption for Unions
In every major city that is increasing the minimum wage (Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles), labor unions have been at the forefront of the change. For example, in an op-ed for the Huffington Post titled “Raise Los Angeles’ Minimum Wage and Enforce It,” Rusty Hicks, a labor leader in L.A. who represents over 300 unions, wrote: It’s no secret that we believe the minimum wage must be raised in order to lift working families out of poverty. Most voters and...
Wouldn’t It Be Loverly: Audrey Hepburn, Nail Salons And How To Help Women
As I wrote here a couple of weeks ago, nail salons across the country are under scrutiny for abusive labor tactics and human trafficking. New York City has taken a hard look at this issue (thank goodness!) and is considering implementing some not-so-well-thought-out policies. Included in this are: Gov. Andrew Cuomo invoking “emergency measures,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) citing federal legislation on product safety she’s introduced and of course New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio presiding over a...
Why Family-Friendly Employment Requirements Aren’t Always Family-Friendly
Three of the most basic principles of economics are that people are price-sensitive, risk-averse, and that they respond to incentives. If you raise the price of a good or service people will, in general, tend to buy less (price-sensitive). If you give a person a choice between a certain e (“I’ll pay you $50 for nothing”) or a higher payoff on an uncertain e (“I’ll pay you $100 or nothing based on a coin-flip”), they’ll generally take the less risky...
Child Sex Trafficking: Rescue Is Possible And Here Is Proof
I don’t believe there is anything worse than the trafficking of children for sex. Children are often sold by parents because of poverty, are “traded” by adults in their life for drugs or cash, or are lured by traffickers who promise money, affection and support from an adult or children can simply be kidnapped. Is there any hope for recovering a child lost in this hell? There is. A unique, successful organization called Operation Underground Railroad is showing the world...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved