Monthly Archives: September 2015

Drug Goes from $13.50 to $750 Overnight

Drug pricing is a hot-button issue. And the reasons are clear enough. And it’s easy to sympathize with patients and doctors, and point fingers at greedy drug companies (who have, in many regards, earned the world’s dim view of them).

Drug Goes from $13.50 to $750 Overnight

Drug pricing is a hot-button issue. And the reasons are clear enough. And it’s easy to sympathize with patients and doctors, and point fingers at greedy drug companies (who have, in many regards, earned the world’s dim view of them).

The Populist Economics of the Pope and Donald Trump

What do the Pope and Donald Trump have in common? They certainly disagree on immigration. But they agree on certain other economic questions. Both count as populists. Both, the author below argues, “see economics as a zero-sum game where wealth

The Populist Economics of the Pope and Donald Trump

What do the Pope and Donald Trump have in common? They certainly disagree on immigration. But they agree on certain other economic questions. Both count as populists. Both, the author below argues, “see economics as a zero-sum game where wealth

Are Liquid Nitrogen Cocktail Obviously Dangerous?

How far does a business need to go in ensuring that new products and services are safe? The case below may seem like an easy one, but it raises an interesting question in this regard. Is it fair for a

Are Liquid Nitrogen Cocktail Obviously Dangerous?

How far does a business need to go in ensuring that new products and services are safe? The case below may seem like an easy one, but it raises an interesting question in this regard. Is it fair for a

Crime Pays for Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson used to be “one of the good guys” — the drug company that won acclaim for its quick action in the face of a Tylenol poisoning crisis of the early 80’s. Those days seem to be gone.

Crime Pays for Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson used to be “one of the good guys” — the drug company that won acclaim for its quick action in the face of a Tylenol poisoning crisis of the early 80’s. Those days seem to be gone.

King of PR Dumps Coal Producers and Climate Change Deniers

How often do you hear “public relations” and “ethics” in the same sentence? Well, here’s your chance. The world’s largest PR firm, Edelman, has announced that it will cease, on ethical grounds, working for coal producers and climate change deniers.

King of PR Dumps Coal Producers and Climate Change Deniers

How often do you hear “public relations” and “ethics” in the same sentence? Well, here’s your chance. The world’s largest PR firm, Edelman, has announced that it will cease, on ethical grounds, working for coal producers and climate change deniers.

When Does Ethical Divestment By Shareholders Make Sense?

Should shareholders sell their shares in companies that are behaving badly? Divestment of this kind is a blunt tool. In many cases it may not be effective, and in many cases it may not be ethically warranted. The argument below

When Does Ethical Divestment By Shareholders Make Sense?

Should shareholders sell their shares in companies that are behaving badly? Divestment of this kind is a blunt tool. In many cases it may not be effective, and in many cases it may not be ethically warranted. The argument below

Can Anti-Corruption Rules Erode Trust?

This piece takes the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inspector general report on cost overruns in the implementation of U.S. Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges as a jumping off point to considering what sorts of contracting norms and

Can Anti-Corruption Rules Erode Trust?

This piece takes the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inspector general report on cost overruns in the implementation of U.S. Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges as a jumping off point to considering what sorts of contracting norms and

Should Organ Sales Be Legal?

Many people die when the organs they need are not available for transplant. On the other hand, the organ trade has a bad reputation. Should we be persuaded by the potential of a more-ideal market, or deterred by the harms

Should Organ Sales Be Legal?

Many people die when the organs they need are not available for transplant. On the other hand, the organ trade has a bad reputation. Should we be persuaded by the potential of a more-ideal market, or deterred by the harms

Psychological Safety at Work

This article presents psychological safety as a practical managerial issue. But it’s also an ethical issue. Psychological trauma and distress can be just as destructive for employees as physical trauma and distress. The difference is that psychological harms are harder

Psychological Safety at Work

This article presents psychological safety as a practical managerial issue. But it’s also an ethical issue. Psychological trauma and distress can be just as destructive for employees as physical trauma and distress. The difference is that psychological harms are harder

Pope Visit Ticket “Scalping” Ethics

The term ‘scalping’ is pejorative, but using it isn’t the same as offering a coherent rationale for condemning the resale of event tickets (or anything else) for profit. This story, about tickets for the Pope’s visit to New York being

Pope Visit Ticket “Scalping” Ethics

The term ‘scalping’ is pejorative, but using it isn’t the same as offering a coherent rationale for condemning the resale of event tickets (or anything else) for profit. This story, about tickets for the Pope’s visit to New York being