Religion and economics goes hand to hand in the eyes of Buddhism. The way Americans look at economics and the way Buddhist view economics are totally different. The view of Buddhist ethical life in business and economics is protected by Buddhist precepts, virtues, and views of karma, no-self, and impermanence. Everybody knows the basic views of economics, unlimited wants are controlled by scarcity, scarcity requires choice, choice involves an opportunity cost, and the final goal is maximum satisfaction. These all are based on human nature, unfortunately most economist are confused about human nature, through a Buddhist way of life human nature is closely examined and made more clearly. Buddhist beliefs in value, consumption, moderation, non-consumption, contentment, work, production and non-production, competition and cooperation, choice and finally life views make a productive and maintainable economy.
Buddhist percepts are as follow, (1) refrain from killing, (2) refrain from stealing, (3) refrain from lying, slandering, gossiping and spreading rumors, (4) refrain from sexual misconduct, and (5) refrain from taking intoxications. The first is basically just not killing things but one can consider degrees of harming. Not pushing in a queue; brushing insects away rather than swatting them; restrained, non-threatening body language. The basic intent around not taking things is simply not stealing. A more refined standard is that 'if it's not yours then don't even touch it.' There is the impulse to grap things off others, to fiddle about with other peoples property. The third precept is literally 'sensual' restraint. This can cover too many pizzas [taste], too much television[sight], loud music[hearing], etc. Sex is probably the strongest sense drive and this precept has generally come to be thought of as sex restraint [touch]; this is fidelity, as in not committing adultery. For younger [pre-adolescent] children this precept can be considered as 'faithfulness in relationships', taking care of one's friends.
