This book explores the economic institutions that determine the nature of animal lives as systematically exploited objects traded in a market economy. It examines human roles and choice in the system, including the economic logic of agriculture, experimentation, and animal ownership, and analyses the marginalization of ethical action in the economic system.

Animals and the Economy demonstrates that individual consumers and farmers are often left with few truly animal-friendly choices. Ethical participants in the economy must either face down an array of institutional barriers, or exit mainstream markets entirely. This book argues that these issues are not necessary elements of a market system, and evaluates a number of policy changes that could improve the lives of animals in the context of a market economy.

Autorentext

Steven McMullen is Assistant Professor of Economics at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, US, and a fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, UK. His research and writing has focused on ethics in the economy and education policy.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Chapter 1: The place of animals in the economy.- Chapter 2: The Ethical Logic of Economics.- Chapter 3: Giving Consumers what they want? .- Chapter 4: Ethical Consumer Action.- Chapter 5: Competition and Moral Complicity.- Chapter 6: Regulating Animal Use.- Chapter 7: Animal Experimentation.- Chapter 8: Property rights and animal rights.- Chapter 9: Ownership and Animal Oppression.- Chapter 10: A new kind of ownership.- Conclusion.- References.- Index.