Introduction

I can imagine the question: What made an economics professor decide to write this book? To address a new topic? A niche market? To talk about impossible dreams and utopias? Obviously, there is the interest in the subject, which—being new—has yet to be touched upon in much detail. But there is more to it than that. The Ethics and Finance course—which I teach at the School of Management and Economics at the University of Turin—has seeped into my soul. The study of ethical issues has taken an increasing hold of me. Unfortunately, the society we live in overwhelms us with sad news, which only teaches us about man’s wickedness, selfishness and greed. You get to the point where you just can’t watch the news anymore.