Economics and Human Rights

    According to Alexander Auzan, Dean of the Faculty of Economics of Moscow State University, the role and activity of “institutional” economists increases during crises. Those. economists who look at the problem broadly. Then they are replaced by “mainstream” economists, who carefully consider and calculate narrow, point problems.

    The task of "institutional" economists is to identify general principles, vectors and trends that can lead to economic growth. Find a kind of "reference point", "fulcrum", which according to Archimedes will allow "to turn the world."

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    On the one hand, the "Wealth of Nations" according to Adam Smith has long been taken as a reference point in the economy. In modern science, this point has been transformed into GDP - Gross Domestic Product.

    On the other hand, the starting point in monetarism (Milton Friedmann) and the Austrian School of Economics (Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich von Hayek) is freedom. Economic and political freedom.

    The third fashionable reference point is currently the concept of "International Index of Happiness."

    Thus, there is no single point of reference now.

    Nevertheless, this point can be found if we analyze the basic principles of building a modern post-industrial democratic society. If you understand what these models have in common. Where is their common starting point.

    The modern economic system, like the modern democratic system, is not created for itself. They are made for people. And that means not a person for the state, but a state for a person. Laws are not for restricting human freedoms, but for ensuring the observance of the rights and freedoms of each person, for increasing the happiness and wealth of each person. So it is not GDP that matters, but the wealth of each individual.

    States are made up of people. No people - no state. Poor people are a poor state.

    Wealth, happiness, freedom of man - this is the area of ​​respect for his rights.

    Thus, a common unifying point in economic and political reasoning and theories is in the field of human rights.

    And if human rights are fully respected, then happiness, “wealth of nations” arises, the country's GDP grows, economic freedoms arise.

    What are human rights? There is a “Universal Declaration of Human Rights." It can be taken as a basis, although in my opinion, many of the provisions of this Declaration do not fully guarantee human rights and freedoms. But it's still better than nothing.

    You can also be guided by the words of Thomas Jefferson from the Declaration of Independence of the USA, that "that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, which include life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness."

    These words are much wider than the provisions of the declaration of human rights and, in my opinion, more precisely.

    If we take human rights as a starting point, then the answers to many pressing questions of the modern economy will become obvious. And it will become clear in which direction to solve them, what should be the vector for resolving these issues, in full accordance with concern for GDP, economic freedoms, human happiness and the “wealth of peoples”.

    For example, the right to life implies the right to protection of life and health, as well as the right to death. This implies the need to legalize the sale of self-defense weapons, legalize euthanasia, simplify and even cancel certification of drugs, medical facilities, prescriptions, etc. (see Milton Friedman's “Freedom to Choose” about the FDA). A person should have the right to independently and freely choose what, how and with whom to be treated. How to protect your life and health. Freely choose a healthy lifestyle or death from legal tobacco, a razor, rope or alcohol, and illegal (in some countries) substances, pistols, euthanasia. *
    Another example. The right to work includes, among other things, the legalization of prostitution, which will also provide the people of this profession with the right to life and health. * Exactly the same universal right to work, the right to freedom of movement requires the maximum relaxation of migration laws. *

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    Are these rights and freedoms with the wealth of peoples, the growth of GDP? Of course. The legalization of self-defense weapons, prostitution, immigration, the abolition of certification and licensing reduce budget costs for the police and other services, and therefore save taxpayers' money. Reducing budget expenditures allows you to reduce taxes and thus make each taxpayer richer and happier. *

    Legalization makes many businesses and income legal, which leads to a reduction in criminal money and undermines the economic basis of crime. This means that it reduces budget costs. *

    Moreover, legalization makes people law-abiding taxpayers, which increases GDP and budget revenues. *

    As a result, people are rich and happy, GDP is growing, budget revenues are growing, turning into additional benefits for people, for example, form of unconditional income.

    Thus, the starting point in the modern economy should be the parameter of full respect for human rights. It is the observance of human rights that underlies the growth of GDP and the “wealth of peoples”.

    With full respect for human rights, all economic actors win. Therefore, human rights are the main reference point for the modern economy.

    * A detailed argumentation of the theses presented is given in the book “Economics and Human Rights”. The
    book can be downloaded free of charge in PDF , in FB2 or in EPUB .
    In FB2 and EPUB formats (for tablets, smartphones, e-books), downloading occurs in the background, and PDF opens in the same window (accordingly, closing the Habr page).

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    Dear Sirs, Readers, I ask you to remember that “The polemic style is more important than the subject of polemic. Items change, and style creates civilization. ” (Grigory Pomerantz). If I did not answer your comment, then something is wrong with the style of your polemic.

    Addition.
    I apologize to everyone who wrote a sensible comment, but I did not answer. The fact is that one of the users was addicted to minus my comments. Each. As soon as it appears. This prevents me from gaining a “charge” and putting a plus in karma and for the answer to those who write sensible comments.
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