Focus on Economics and the Canadian Bishops

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' 1983 report, “Ethical Reflections on the Economic Crisis,” was an attempt to bring moral and theological structure to the difficulties faced by many Canadians during the economic downturn of the early 1980s. In this short critique, Walter Block makes a strong argument that the report, though composed with the best of intentions, advocates policies which will have effects opposite those intended. Writing always with humor and compassion, Block includes a list of further reading to help his readers to research and draw their own conclusions. About the Author Walter Block earned his PhD in Economics at Columbia University. He is an author, editor, and co-editor of many books which include Defending the Undefendable; Lexicon of Economic Thought, Economic Freedom of the World 1975-1995; Rent Control: Myths and Realities; Discrimination, Affirmative Action, and Equal Opportunity; Theology, Third Word Development and Economic Justice; Man, Economy, and Liberty: Essays in Honor of Murray N. Rothbard; Religion, Economics, and Social Thought; and Economic Freedom: Toward a Theory of Measurement. Dr. Block has written more than 500 articles for various non-refereed journals, magazines and newspapers, and is a contributor to such journals as The Review of Austrian Economics, Journal of Libertarian Studies, The Journal of Labor Economics, Cultural Dynamics, and the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. He is currently a professor and chair of economics at Loyola University.