The Morality of Commerce

In 2004 Sir John Templeton encouraged support of Atlas and the institutes it assists: -Benefactors in all nations should help young think tanks teach a vastly wider audience that free competition does not serve selfish purposes, but rather helps to create honesty and efficiency and enthusiasm for service to the public.- After the recent bailouts and government takeovers, educating the public about the importance of free competition to prosperity and morality is even more urgent. Since Sir John wrote, there has been an increase in scientific understanding, much of it sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (JTF), of how moral norms and rules sustain successful economies. Such scholarly research will have a greater positive impact on public understanding if disseminated in terms-and languages-more accessible to populations the world over. Atlas proposes a worldwide campaign in 10 different languages on the study of morality and free competition, drawing on the works of key scholars such as those involved in JTF's debate -Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character?- Atlas's Portuguese project, OrdemLivre.org, already translated those essays, added more by leading Brazilian intellectuals, and disseminated them to over 10,000 Web visitors. We propose to also reproduce that project in other languages. In addition, we propose to focus attention on the incentives that distort prudent behavior in unsustainable-often immoral-ways through the works of Nobel Laureate Vernon Smith, Johan Norberg, and other noted scholars. Such essays, books, and videos will raise awareness of the issues among public intellectuals and direct youth to our 2011 -Morality and Free Competition- essay contests, which will be tied to Freedom Schools around the world. Top essays will be published in 10 languages. The program will be complemented by a pilot program to build local business associations dedicated to understanding the morality of free competition and the dignity of commerce.