Response to Peter J. Hill

Abstract

Lack of information is doubtless a serious impediment to the effective operation of religious authority in modern society. The implications for the role of religious authority are, however, mixed. Sometimes an expanded role would be called for. In other instances, no change is required; in others, increased reliance on voluntarism to enforce ethical norms would be indicated. The thrust of Jewish economic precepts is not to extend government privilege to particular groups, such as tariffs, quotas and price-support programs. These precepts are transcendent duties, prescribed for all in a non-discriminatory manner. They define the ground rules of economic participation and are designed to promote harmonious social relations and generosity of spirit. Jewish economic precepts should therefore not give rise to a significant rent-seeking problem.