The Impetus for Recognizing Private Property and Adopting Ethical Behavior in a Market Economy: Natural Law, Government Law, or Evolving Self-Interest

This paper was prepared for consideration for a Ludwig von Mises prize to be awarded at the Mises Institute’s 10th anniversary conference, October 9-11,1992. The paper draws from and expands upon a manuscript entitled “The Evolution of Values and Institutions in a Free Society: The Underpinnings of a Market Economy,” prepared for the International Conference on the Unity of Sciences, held in Seoul, Korea in August of 1992. It is also part of an ongoing research project on “The Evolution of Law: Custom Versus Authority” which has been supported by the Earhart Foundation with Fellowship Research Grants for the summers of 1991 and 1992.