Economic Universalism in Monetary Policy

Zera Yacob rejected particularism—the idea that truth or justice differs by culture or status—arguing instead for universalism grounded in shared reason. This directly critiques monetary systems designed to benefit particular groups: central banks serving financial elites, reserve currencies giving imperial nations unfair advantage, or policies treating some citizens' savings as expendable. Economic universalism demands monetary systems serving universal human needs: stable value, fair access to credit, and protection against currency manipulation. It rejects the notion that some populations deserve inflation while others deserve stability, or that poor nations should accept currency instability imposed by rich-nation central banks. A universalist monetary policy recognizes that reason and dignity apply equally to an Ethiopian farmer and a Wall Street trader, demanding systems where monetary rules serve all humanity rather than privileged constituencies.