Ordering global finance: back to basics

The paper aims at exploring the middle-level ground between Catholic social teaching and policy analysis and prescriptions, with special reference to issues of global finance and development. LDC debt relief, between ethical principles and economic and political feasibility, will be considered. An economist’s point of view will be presented, where CST is used as a working hypothesis for a “back to basics”, unsophisticated approach with elementary economic experience at its core. Focusing on the issue of global finance and LDC’ development gives an interesting opportunity to tackle the crucial issue regarding the relations among Catholic social teaching, Catholic non official thinking and “secular” thinking.