Steven C McMullen

Articles & Essays Ethics General Economics Papers & Presentations

Objectivity and Ethics: Dialogue with Theologians. Part 1

This post is the first in a series about ethics, theology, and critiques of economic methodology. Each post is a portion of an early draft of a paper that is forthcoming in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. Here is a table of contents, of sorts,…

Steven C. McMullenJune 25, 2019

Book Reviews

Reforming American Politics

Harold Heie's new book models a reform of American politics almost more than it explains. Heie started the project by inviting a broad selection of people to engage in arranged conversations, online, about contentious topics. Those he invited were chosen, and paired up, with the…

Steven C. McMullenMay 29, 2019

Animal Ethics Ethics General Economics

Why are Veggie Burgers so Expensive?

This is a big week for plant-based meat alternatives. The news of the Impossible Whopper is exciting for those of us who still love the idea of fast-food burgers. There is also the news that Beyond Meat is going public, which means that people will…

Steven C. McMullenApril 5, 2019

Animal Ethics Ethics

Impossible Meat Explosion

A number of restaurants have recently adopted some new plant-based meat alternatives on their menus. The biggest one yet is the introduction of the "Impossible Whopper," a burger king experiment in which their classic whopper beef patty was replaced with the Impossible Burger, starting in…

Steven C. McMullenApril 1, 2019

Articles & Essays Chapter Ethics

Waste and Efficiency in a Consumer Economy

This essay appears in Multifaceted Explorations of Consumer Culture and Its Impact on Individuals and Society. (D. Burns, editor, IGI Global. 2018.) INTRODUCTION In many urban areas, both when it is legal and when it is not, you can find individuals gaining a large portion…

Steven C. McMullenMarch 18, 2019

Articles & Essays Ethics Featured General Economics Talks & Lectures

How Economic Liberalism can Undermine Moral Norms

There is a tendency for liberal institutions to push against traditions and practices. As a result, liberalism crowds out illiberal morality. Moral commitments that run counter to individual freedom are difficult to maintain in a liberal social, political and economic system, partly due to a…

Steven C. McMullenDecember 8, 2018

Education Featured

Teacher Turnover, Composition, and Qualifications in the Year-Round School Setting

Published in the B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy 18(3). 2018. Abstract:We estimate the effects of year-round school (YRS) calendars on teacher turnover and teacher qualifications for the state of California, finding that YRS results in diminished teacher education and experience. This result is…

Steven C. McMullenSeptember 25, 2018

Ethics Featured

Against Inefficacy Objections

Against Inefficacy Objections: The Real Economic Impact of Individual Consumer Choices on Animal Agriculture Coauthored with Matthew Halteman, Calvin College Published in Food Ethics. Preliminary Draft Abstract When consumers choose to abstain from purchasing meat, they face some uncertainty about whether their decisions will have…

Steven C. McMullenAugust 23, 2017

Articles & Essays General Economics

How to Find Hope in the Humanless Economy

By Kevin Brown and Steven McMullen. "First appeared in the June 21st, 2017 issue of Christianity Today (cover story) Full article at Christianity Today Site. Paywall Free version There is a lot of fear and uncertainty about the impact of automation in the economy. The prospect…

Steven C. McMullenJuly 13, 2017

Book Reviews Ethics

Review of The Politics of Virtue by John Milbank and Adrian Pabst

The Politics of Virtue: Post-Liberalism and the Human Future John Milbank and Adrian Pabst. 2016. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN: 978-1783486496 $39.95 (paper). Co-authored with John Lunn. This book review appeared in Faith & Economics in the Spring 2017 issue. The theologian John Milbank…

Steven C. McMullenJuly 13, 2017

Steven C. McMullen