Yearly Archives: 2015
Is CSR a Crony Capitalist Profit-Maximization Strategy?
Are corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives a deviation from firms’ pursuit of profits or are they instead (part of) profit-making strategies? This blog post draws together a lot of recent research to suggest that the answer may be the latter,
Is CSR a Crony Capitalist Profit-Maximization Strategy?
Are corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives a deviation from firms’ pursuit of profits or are they instead (part of) profit-making strategies? This blog post draws together a lot of recent research to suggest that the answer may be the latter,
Op-Ed: Airbnb Makes NYC Housing More Affordable, Not Less
By helping people to realize some of the capital value, and not merely the consumption value, of their homes Airbnb is a force for improving housing affordability in highly-desirable real estate markets like New York City’s. In this New York
Op-Ed: Airbnb Makes NYC Housing More Affordable, Not Less
By helping people to realize some of the capital value, and not merely the consumption value, of their homes Airbnb is a force for improving housing affordability in highly-desirable real estate markets like New York City’s. In this New York
Ethics of Self-Driving Cars: Analogy and New Harvard Case
In an earlier post, we observed that self-driving automobiles present not only technological, but also ethical, challenges. This Stanford Graduate School of Business blog post performs two useful functions. First, it analogizes the ethical problem faced by those programming self-driving
Ethics of Self-Driving Cars: Analogy and New Harvard Case
In an earlier post, we observed that self-driving automobiles present not only technological, but also ethical, challenges. This Stanford Graduate School of Business blog post performs two useful functions. First, it analogizes the ethical problem faced by those programming self-driving
Who Should Have Delivery Access to Your Mailbox?
In the 21st Century, we receive a dizzying array of parcels at our homes, courtesy of a wide variety delivery services. Pizzas, packages, groceries, and dry cleaning arrive in a parade of plenty, but in the U.S., only one delivery
Who Should Have Delivery Access to Your Mailbox?
In the 21st Century, we receive a dizzying array of parcels at our homes, courtesy of a wide variety delivery services. Pizzas, packages, groceries, and dry cleaning arrive in a parade of plenty, but in the U.S., only one delivery
Special Tax District Crony Capitalists Get Their Comeuppance?
Although nominally about elections and voting, this piece is about the shenanigans employed to create and rig special tax districts. When well-designed, these districts allow crony capitalist businesspeople to levy taxes on consumers for the benefit of the crony capitalists,
Special Tax District Crony Capitalists Get Their Comeuppance?
Although nominally about elections and voting, this piece is about the shenanigans employed to create and rig special tax districts. When well-designed, these districts allow crony capitalist businesspeople to levy taxes on consumers for the benefit of the crony capitalists,
Competition Ethics: Who Counts as a Competitor?
If you take seriously Joseph Heath’s market failures approach to business ethics, the concept of competition takes on added importance in your analysis of business ethics issues. This piece raises the interesting question of what counts as competition for a
Competition Ethics: Who Counts as a Competitor?
If you take seriously Joseph Heath’s market failures approach to business ethics, the concept of competition takes on added importance in your analysis of business ethics issues. This piece raises the interesting question of what counts as competition for a
Will Smith’s “Concussion” and Business Ethics
Will Smith’s new movie is going to be making appearances in business ethics classrooms. It is increasingly recognized that football is a dangerous sport. The sport has always been known as a rough one, but the specific long-term dangers of
Will Smith’s “Concussion” and Business Ethics
Will Smith’s new movie is going to be making appearances in business ethics classrooms. It is increasingly recognized that football is a dangerous sport. The sport has always been known as a rough one, but the specific long-term dangers of
Employment Regulations Hurting Caregivers?
Sometimes regulations aimed to help a particular group end up hurting. Just how often that happens is a matter of dispute. And of course, the fact that (some) workers are hurt by a regulation designed to protect them doesn’t automatically
Employment Regulations Hurting Caregivers?
Sometimes regulations aimed to help a particular group end up hurting. Just how often that happens is a matter of dispute. And of course, the fact that (some) workers are hurt by a regulation designed to protect them doesn’t automatically
Ethics of Arbitration Clauses: Dish Network’s New ToS
Arbitration clauses are old news in commercial contracts, but they’re appearing more frequently in the terms of service agreements firms are providing to consumers. The Dish clause is interesting because it not only bars ordinary contract litigation (in favor of
Ethics of Arbitration Clauses: Dish Network’s New ToS
Arbitration clauses are old news in commercial contracts, but they’re appearing more frequently in the terms of service agreements firms are providing to consumers. The Dish clause is interesting because it not only bars ordinary contract litigation (in favor of
Hedge Funds Buying Debt in Baltimore, Taking People’s Homes
This is apparently legal — in fact, it is apparently supported by a legal system that enforces disproportionate repayment of debt. File this along with Ashley Madison under the category, “Sure, It’s Legal, But Can’t You Find A Better Way
Hedge Funds Buying Debt in Baltimore, Taking People’s Homes
This is apparently legal — in fact, it is apparently supported by a legal system that enforces disproportionate repayment of debt. File this along with Ashley Madison under the category, “Sure, It’s Legal, But Can’t You Find A Better Way
Business Ethics Highlights 
Recent Comments