ABSTRACT
Every good story has a compelling lead, so let's begin by introducing ours: homo economicus, aka "economic man". Coined by economists in the late nineteenth century, homo economicus is a construct of human nature defined by self-interest and the pursuit of individual gain. The goal of maximizing self-benefit drives the primary mode of interaction: zero-sum competition, a game in which one winner reigns over multiple losers. Because only one can win, "Others" loom as adversaries and threats. We have no choice but to subjugate them. Hierarchy is necessary and equality is impossible. Moore's motivations launch him on a quest to get ahead, defined in this story by more: more profits, more resources, more market share—in other words, economic growth measured in quantitative terms. The GDP is the sum value of economic activity and is defined as "the total market value of the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States".
