The Economics of Sin and Virtue

Article here.

Money lies closer to people's souls than they like to admit.

We are divided about money because we are divided in ourselves. We hate Exxon for exploiting the general population as oil prices soar, but given the means, we'd buy their stock. The urge to covet wealth is shadowed by a rage that would tear the rich down. In India I was taught as a child that the deciding factor is Karma. Earn your money by good and virtuous means if you want your life to be good and virtuous. This is a reformulation of the biblical "as you sow, so shall you reap." In our fantasies we hope that bad people suffer for their bad money, but the law of Karma -- or Jesus's sowing and reaping -- doesn't work that simply. To be honest, I have no confirmed idea how good is finally balanced with bad, or how karmic repercussions are timed. So I prefer to stick with what my mother told me and try to keep my gains as well-gotten as I can.

- Deepak Chopra