Economic Need for Knowledge

The basic benefit of the market is that we can specialize in things that we are relatively efficient at doing, and then trade for things that other people have done. In this way we end up with more things. As a side benefit, trade sometimes helps people and countries to get along.

One problem that can arise with a market, a market weakness, is imperfect information. Example: people add water to the milk they sell, people don't know what they're getting when they buy milk, and the milk market shuts down.

This weakness comes about because people don't have enough information about the transaction they are making, and so they become fearful and unsure about making transactions at all.
Solution? More information!

Knowledge

Governments often fix imperfect information by forcing the publication of pertinent product information. Getting a formal education also helps. However, more and more I am thinking that the greatest tragedies in life come about because of a lack of spiritual knowledge. Would people do things to harm themselves if they knew that they were children of God? 

I was reading in the news the other day (a new and hopefully growing habit) about an 18 year old boy that had surgery to become a girl. A common concern with these situations is whether teenagers sometimes turn to that because they are trying to find out who they are. 

From my experience with prayer, I can only imagine better transactions and less fear coming from receiving more revelation from God. Hopefully I can find opportunities to help people, even if just one at a time, to see the blessings that come receiving knowledge from our Heavenly Father.

Motivations

Why do we do what we do? Why do we strive to keep God's commandments? Why do we do it when we're feeling happy? Why do we do it when we're feeling sad? These are important questions, especially in relation to economics, the study of incentives.

Obviously, these are difficult to answer questions so I will just share a few thoughts on the topic.

First thought: Perhaps our motives are better than we think they are

I do a lot of things mostly because I want to avoid the immediate and persistent feeling of guilt that comes from not keeping God's commandments. . . then I feel guilty about having that motivation. . . it can be an unpleasant downward cycle. But I gained a new insight from this scripture when the prophet Alma asks his people,

 "and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light. . . Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him. . .that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" (Mosiah 18:8,10) after which the people agree and clap for joy.

 It's interesting to note that at this point the people want to be God's people, and are willing to serve each other. With that motivation, they agree to keep God's commandments so that then they can have more of God's Spirit. Aren't we at least willing, if not desirous, to help others when they have difficult burdens? I imagine we usually are. This people then goes on to have their "hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another" (Mosiah 18:21).

Second thought: God loves us so he gives us tools to help us through the good and the bad

When times are good, I believe that the motive of gratitude can help us to keep the commandments. 

When times are bad, I believe that "hope for a better world. . . maketh an anchor to the souls of men" (Ether 12:4). Life is a period of testing, and I am grateful for the many motivations that help me overcome my naturally self-interested tendencies: duty, habit, gratitude, knowledge of consequences, and love. I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that redeems me from sin and helps me to have a gentler and more loving heart.