The Value of Interest Rates

The variability of Interest Rates, and of Usury laws, indicate that there is no Rate that is inherently either beneficial or harmful.  Thus, it is not impossible that the optimal rate is 0%, in which case any charge for a loan should be banned.  But, given how deeply entrenched in and interwoven into Macroeconomics the practice pervasively is, an empirical evaluation of it is nearly impossible.  Still, it cannot be denied that the influence of Interest extends beyond merely Economic activity, which even the staunchest of advocates of laissez-faire policies cannot deny is a species of social activity in general.  Hence, an evaluation of the former can be derived from one of the latter, e. g. if hysterical behavior is deemed to be both personally and collectively unhealthy, than so, too, is it malignant qua Economic activity.  Thus, for example, the Christmas shopping rush can be evaluated as socially 'harmful' even if it is calculated to 'boost the Economy'.  Accordingly, the value of Interest as a social practice is a topic for Political Philosophy, even if some Economists insist that a governing body should not be interfering in such a practice.