It seems that prosocial behavior is acquired, not hardwired into the genes. If that is so, the recent failure of empathy in the European Monetary Union has much deeper roots than financial problems. Perhaps antisocial behavior was rewarded too much in the past, with taxes falling for the wealthier part of Europeans, tax flight being more and more common and financial crimes were decriminalized.econoblog101
Sympathy for the deficit – or better empathy?
Dirk Ehnts | Berlin School for Economics and Law
Two relevant recent findings. First, taking university courses in economics makes on less pro-social, and secondly, elevated social status and wealth also make one less pro-social. Maybe there are some lessons here.
