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The Throwaway Culture in the Economy of Exclusion: Pope Francis and Economists on Waste

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  • Charles M. A. Clark
  • Helen Alford

Abstract

An essential part of Pope Francis’s critique of the “economy of exclusion” is the concept of the “throwaway culture,” which is an attitude and a reality that goes beyond mere exclusion. Francis is building on critiques of consumerism (what John Paul II called “economism”) that noted both the environmental impacts of unnecessary waste and the social and human impact of reducing humans to mere consumers—the idea that happiness is shopping. Francis adds to this a concern for the people on the margins of society who are treated as disposable and for the consequences of climate change, both of which are connected to the throwaway attitude. This article looks at Francis’s views within the tradition of Catholic social thought and at how economists, especially Adam Smith, who provided the foundation for modern economics, looked at waste and consumerism.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles M. A. Clark & Helen Alford, 2019. "The Throwaway Culture in the Economy of Exclusion: Pope Francis and Economists on Waste," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 78(4), pages 973-1008, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:78:y:2019:i:4:p:973-1008
    DOI: 10.1111/ajes.12295
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Donald Stabile, 1996. "Theories of Consumption and Waste: Institutional Foreshadowings in Classic Writings," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 685-699, September.
    2. Jay Johnson & Gary Pecquet & Leon Taylor, 2007. "Potential Gains from Trade in Dirty Industries: Revisiting Lawrence Summers' Memo," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 27(3), pages 397-410, Fall.
    3. Robert H. Nelson, 2019. "Economic Religion and the Worship of Progress," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 78(2), pages 319-362, March.
    4. Charles K. Wilber, 1998. "CONSUMPTION‐John Paul II, Catholic social thought and the ethics of consumption," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(11/12), pages 1595-1607, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Valentina Erasmo, 2023. "“Usus pauper”: how early Franciscan economic thought might offer a contribution to the debate about food waste," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 70(3), pages 323-339, September.

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