Jaina Ethics and Economic Prosperity (S. L. Mandawat)

Summary

S. L. Mandawat explores how Jain ethics intersect with economic life and modernization. Against the thesis that religion always impedes economic development, he argues that Jainism’s discipline—truthfulness, non‑violence, and restraint—can underwrite trust, reduce transaction costs, and cultivate reputational capital. Historical observations note Jain prominence in trade alongside relative absence in heavy industry, traced to injunctions against harm that redirected enterprise into mercantile and financial sectors. The paper dialogues with Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic, testing whether a comparable 'Jain ethic' fosters prosperity. Mandawat reviews key vows: aparigraha (non‑possession), asteya (non‑stealing), and ahiṃsā, translating them into economic norms: limits on accumulation, rejection of fraud/bribery/smuggling, and avoidance of harmful trades. He concedes potential constraints—e.g., occupational exclusions—but reframes them as channels toward peace‑economy and social welfare. Case observations suggest that honesty and community mechanisms enable credit networks and business resilience. The essay closes by emphasizing balanced growth: discipline is not anti‑growth; rather, it shapes the form of prosperity and its distribution, emphasizing philanthropy and equitable use of wealth.