The Economics of Care

The Hodja frequently highlights the absurdity of human economic logic. Companion animal care exemplifies this perfectly: we spend considerable resources on creatures that provide no economic return. From conventional logic, this seems foolish. Yet the Hodja's wisdom suggests that some of the most valuable things lie outside market thinking. The economics of care with pets teaches us about what truly matters: presence, unconditional regard, daily commitment to another's wellbeing. This framework invites us to examine our spending on pets not as wasteful but as investment in our own humanity. What does it cost to care for a creature with no capacity to repay? Everything—and nothing. By accepting this paradox, we free ourselves from needing our pets to justify their existence through productivity. We learn to value the unmeasurable: the comfort of a cat's purr, the greeting of a dog, the simple fact of shared space. This transforms pet care from transaction into spiritual practice.