Ethics and Economics is divided in two parts. In the first one, Italian and French catholic thinkers, are analysed by well-known scholars, with basic reference to the economic view of their work. In the second part the economic environment is described and proposals, based on the social catholic thought, for the solution of the most diffused economic problems are given. The book therefore furnishes an alternative approach to the orthodox economic analysis and, for this reason, it may be a useful tool for researchers who wish to compare their theoretical approach with a less conventional one, and for scholars who want to examine closely alternative views to the traditional economic models and paradigm.

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One Catholic Thinkers and Economic Science: A Rich Relationship for the Development of Social Economy.- I Ethics and Economics in Giuseppe Toniolo.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Economic Science.- 3. Ethical Goals.- 4. Toniolo's Historicism.- 5. Intrisicalness of Ethical Elements to Economic Laws.- 6. Capitalism.- 7. The Catholic Reformation.- 8. Man, Intermediate Bodies and Profit.- 9. Economic Science and Economic Activity.- Giuseppe Toniolo: Biography.- Complete Works.- Writings on His Life and Works.- II Ethics and Economics in Francesco Vito.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Crisis of Economic Orthodoxy in the 30's.- 3. Francesco Vito's Formation.- 4. The Problem of Method.- 5. Economic Science.- 6. Goals and Means.- 7. Economic Neutrality.- 8. Economist's Responsability.- 9. Conclusions.- Francesco Vito: Biography.- Writings.- Writings on His Life and Works.- III Ethics and Economics in Ezio Vanoni.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Means-Goals Scheme at the Basis of the Discussion about Ethics and Economics.- 3. Ezio Vanoni's Approach: Economic Plan and Social Justice.- 4. Conclusions.- Ezio Vanoni: Biography.- Writings.- Writings on His Life and Works.- IV Ethics and Economics in Father L.J. Lebret.- 1. Introduction.- 2. First Step: The Discovery of Unjustice. The Movement of St. Malò.- 3. Second Step: The Period after the World War II.- 4. Third Step: Fight for Development.- 5. A Carnal Economy.- Three Texts by Louis Joseph Lebret.- Father L. J. Lebret:Biography.- Writings.- Writings on His Life and Works.- V Ethics and Economics in François Perroux.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Man Is the Sense of Economy.- 3. The Foundations of the Theory of François Perroux.- 4. Culture at the Basis of Economy.- 5. Stop Subordinating Man to Means.- 6. Solvency Limits.- 7. The Invention of a Participation Economy.- 8. Market Economy and Its Three Actors.- 9. Towards the Human Economy of the 21st Century.- François Perroux: Biography.- Writings.- Writings on His Life and Works.- VI Ethics and Economics in Guido Menegazzi.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Subjective and Objective Aspects of Man.- 3. Fantappiè and the Method of Dual Experimentation.- 4. Menegazzi and the Method of "Double Duality".- 5. Man's Balance.- 6. The Objective Functional Circuit of Subjects of Social Life.- 7. The Principle of Mutual Strengthening.- 8. Scientific Planning.- 9. Conclusions.- Guido Menegazzi: Biography.- Writings.- Writings on His Life and Works.- Two A Personalistic Approach to Political Economy Based on Christian Social Ethics.- I The Social Doctrine of the Church and the Personalistic Approach to Economics.- 1. Economics and the Social Doctrine of the Church.- 2. A Personalistic Approach to Economics.- 3. Economy between Efficiency and Solidarity.- II Limited Resources and Overcoming of Scarcity.- 1. Economic Science and Limited Resources.- 2. Resources Variability and Human Resources.- III The Economic System and its Personalistic Goal.- 1. The Economic System.- 2. Capitalistic and Plan Socialist Economic Systems.- 3. The Economic System Consistent with the Social Doctrine of the Church.- 4. The Goal of the Economic System.- IV Private Property, Trade, Market and Function of the State.- 1. Universal Destination of Goods and Acceptance of Private Property.- 2. Development of Economic Relations: Trading.- 3. The Role of the Market.- 4. Prices Control.- 5. The Subsidiary Function of the State.- V Enterprise and Private Initiative.- 1. The Importance of Private Initiative.- 2. The Goal of Private Enterprise.- 3. Nature of Profit.- 4. Enterprise as a Community.- 5. Enterprise in the "Centesimus Annus".- VI Labour in the Modern Technological, Economic and Social Context.- 1. The Economic and Technological Setting of Enterprise and Worker.- 2. Personal Aspect of Labour and Technological Innovations.- VII Unemployment.- 1. Causes of Unemployment.- 2. Unemployment, Efficiency, Solidarity.- 3. New Technologies and the Problem of Employment.- 4. Overcoming Unemployment.- 5. A New Employment Culture.- VIII Personalism, Economic Democracy and Freedom.- 1. Participation and Economic Democracy.- 2. Overcoming of the Current Organising and Productive Schemes.- 3. Involvement of Workers.- IX Labour and Participation.- 1. Participation in a Company.- 2. Sharing Profit and Loss Outcome and Company Efficiency.- 3. Participation in Profit and Loss Outcome: Effects on Employment.- 4. Problems Connected with Participation.- 5. Capital Sharing.- X Consumption and Satisfaction of Needs.- 1. The Real Meaning of Consumption.- 2. Principles of Consumer Sovereignty and Rationality.- 3. Ethics and Consumption.- 4. Consumption as a Cultural Factor.- 5. A Really Rational Consumer.- 6. Consumption Sobriety.- 7. The Decline of Consumerism.- XI A Really Responsible Economy.- 1. Ethical Thought and Efficiency.- 2. Public Welfare and Institutions.- References.