Morals, Markets and Charity Shops

I listened this morning to BBC Radio 4's 2009 Reith Lecture. Professor Michael Sandel delivered the first of four lectures on a New Citizenship, this one entitled, Morals and Markets. I found it absorbing; delivered in a calm, reasoned and occasionally self-deprecating way. I was interested enough to want to hear it again and have subscribed to the podcast of the series. It has been in my mind all day. This evening, as we drifted into an evening of passive TV, we watched BBC 2's Mary Queen of Charity Shops. It, too, was absorbing but for different reasons. Mary Portas has set herself the task of remodelling a Save the Children shop to make more money for the charity. The senior volunteers had plenty to say and it became clear that there were two different value propositions at play. One was market driven, the other, occasionally in an opposing stance, was voluntary contribution.

Can we square this circle? I'm with Sandel in as much as I agree that there are some places where market forces should not penetrate. I am keen to listen to and watch the remaining episodes in both series. I am grateful to the BBC for this programming. Both made me think.