ABSTRACT
The outer structure of the economic life of our day has been built up largely by Jewish hands. But the principles underlying economic life—that which may be termed the modern economic spirit, or the economic point of view—may also be traced to a Jewish origin. Jewish commercial conduct reflected the accepted point of view among Jewish traders. Hence Jews were never conscious of doing wrong, of being guilty of commercial immorality; their policy was in accordance with a system, which for them was the proper one. The Jews can deliver at a lower rate than the Christians "because they are more thrifty and live more cheaply". The Jewish outlook was the "modern" outlook; the Jew was actuated in his economic activities in the same way as the modern man. Throughout the centuries the Jews championed the cause of individual liberty in economic activities against the dominating views of the time.
