Before the secret behind Santa was revealed to us by an older sibling or a loud-mouthed classmate, the magic of the holidays were untarnishable. Now, the season seems a little less jolly, focused mainly around getting the best deals to give the best presents that may cost more than we can afford. 

Professor Al Gini confirms that holiday spending has become a critical measurement of national and global economic health. The majority of the year’s retail sales will, in fact, happen within a month of Christmas. However, there are other aspects of the holidays that can be appreciated and enjoyed in the company of others.

Al Gini is a professor of business ethics and chair of the department of management at Loyola University Chicago. He is also the co-founder and associate editor of Business Ethics Quarterly, and the author of several books, including My Job, My Self and Seeking the Truth of Things: Confessions of a (catholic) Philosopher.