Abstract
Judaism's anti-poverty program assigns government the function of a social safety net and the mandate to foster a favorable economic environment. Judaism is opposed to government redistribution of income. Government's role in setting minimum product standards in the areas of health and safety is not predicated on an ability to assess risk-cost trade-offs. Rather, it is a mandate to eliminate unnecessary risk. Price controls are justified only when the subsistence needs of the masses are at stake; and only to constrain economic rent. Ethical norms cannot thrive in a weak moral climate. Government rule-making designed to reduce moral hazard and eliminate settings for invisible misconduct reinforces society's commitment to ethical norms.
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