An important dichotomy is a focus on the approach versus a focus on the result. A problem that is shared by theology and economy is optimising the balance between human evil and human good in favour of the latter. It is hardly ever, if ever, straightforward. A market-driven approach would take advantage of that situation and legitimise it by pointing to the advantage for consumers caused by the reduced production costs. According to a recent study, white South Africans take an average of ten minutes to go to the shops, while blacks average 35 minutes.
Stress is an important factor in life quality.
The new labour law contributes involuntarily by driving up the production costs. The juxtaposition of power and self-interest on the one hand, with ethics and values in corporate practice on the other, was discussed. An important question concerns whether, given the power-relations between business and the wider society, the latter is only able to influence decision through coercion and general suspicion. Religion could have something to say in this issue. A healthy and ethical society needs both 'value institutions' and business that are not crippled.