Luigino Bruni Livres

This volume serves a dual purpose. It follows the Italian tradition of thought from the 15th and 16th centuries, known as Civic Humanism, through to the Enlightenment, particularly in Milan and Naples. Its key contribution to economic thought is the view of the market as a space grounded in reciprocity and civil virtues. The book explores the reasons behind the civil approach to economics fading from cultural and scientific discussions by the end of the 18th century, only to re-emerge in contemporary discourse. Additionally, it offers a fresh perspective on economic reality, framing civil economy as a cultural lens through which to interpret economic discussions. If theory is seen as a viewpoint on reality, this cultural perspective can underpin a diverse economic theory. The essence of this diversity lies in integrating three fundamental principles of social order: the exchange of equivalents, redistribution, and reciprocity. While the book draws on historical economic ideas, it emphasizes present-day relevance, seeking to provide meaningful insights into the challenges posed by globalization.

Exploring the concept of reciprocity, this book uniquely approaches it through the lens of economics, diverging from its traditional philosophical roots in social psychology and cultural anthropology. By analyzing how reciprocity influences economic interactions and relationships, it provides fresh insights into its implications for international relations and broader societal dynamics.

The book provides a historical overview of the evolution of economic thought, highlighting the relationship between happiness and sociality in economics. Bruni's work contributes to a renewed exploration of these themes, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the intersection of economics and well-being.

A succinct introduction to the civil economy approach and its history, which draws on the rich Italian tradition of civic humanism and which places well- being, virtue and the common good alongside more familiar economic goals.

The commentary explores the foundational narratives of Genesis and Exodus, offering insights that connect these biblical texts to contemporary economic and social issues. By examining these essential books, the author presents fresh interpretations that highlight their relevance in today's world, encouraging readers to reflect on the implications of these ancient stories for modern life.

The book explores the contrasting influences of Protestantism and Catholicism on the development of European capitalism, arguing for a clear distinction between Northern and Southern capitalist spirits. It delves into the religious nature and origins of contemporary capitalism, making it relevant for those interested in economic thought, ethics, and religious history.

This book looks at the governance of values-based organizations (VBOs), which are organizations with a mission and identity based on ideals. Examples of VBOs include non-profit organizations, charities, NGOs, environmental, educational or cultural organizations, and social enterprises. The main objective of any VBO is to evolve and grow without losing its identity, which its survival is linked to in the medium and long terms. The focus of this book is the study of the relational and motivational dynamics during identity crisis, using critical mass models and Hirschman's "exit and voice" framework. This book analyses the dynamics that arise in VBOs when the quality of the ideal deteriorates. On the basis of Hirschman's "exit and voice" model, it analyses the factors that lead the best members - the intrinsically motivated ones who care most about the mission and ideals of the organization - to leave if their voice is ignored. We show that the possible cumulative effects caused by the "exit" of intrinsically motivated members can lead the organization to a process of deterioration. This book offers an analysis of these phenomena, which are usually studied in sociology or political science, by using an economic approach and the language of evolutionary game theory. By combining sociological politics and economics as a theoretical tool, we create a fresh approach to explore crises in organizations.

Values-based organizations are institutions, communities and NGOs which are inspired by a mission or a vocation - for these groups it is their ideals which are most important to them and economics does not have a way to incorporate that into its analysis. This book provides a short introduction to the economics of values-based organizations.