Yearly Archives: 2015
Is Amazon a Hellish Workplace?
Amazon is an innovative tech giant. Working there must be incredibly exciting. But according to some reports, it’s also pretty brutal. The New York Times recently published an exposé, to which Amazon’s CEO responded. A key question has to do
Is Amazon a Hellish Workplace?
Amazon is an innovative tech giant. Working there must be incredibly exciting. But according to some reports, it’s also pretty brutal. The New York Times recently published an exposé, to which Amazon’s CEO responded. A key question has to do
Ethics of the Televangelist Business
What is it that saves televangelists from being arrested for fraud? Below is a link to a recent John Oliver bit about televangelists. It’s worth thinking about televangelism as a business, and evaluating the behaviour of televangelists in terms of
Ethics of the Televangelist Business
What is it that saves televangelists from being arrested for fraud? Below is a link to a recent John Oliver bit about televangelists. It’s worth thinking about televangelism as a business, and evaluating the behaviour of televangelists in terms of
CEOs Who Make At Least 800 Times What Their Employees Do
Stats about income inequality are so common today that there’s a risk of people becoming a bit “oh whatever” about it. But the numbers cited at the link below are truly eye-popping. The numbers at the end of the lines
CEOs Who Make At Least 800 Times What Their Employees Do
Stats about income inequality are so common today that there’s a risk of people becoming a bit “oh whatever” about it. But the numbers cited at the link below are truly eye-popping. The numbers at the end of the lines
“BK” Trademark Ethics: Burger King or the Book of Kells?
The rationale for trademark law has an ethical core: purchasers ought to be able to count on the mark to identify correctly the source (be it a retailer or manufacturer) of goods purchased. Consequently, the central question in trademark disputes
“BK” Trademark Ethics: Burger King or the Book of Kells?
The rationale for trademark law has an ethical core: purchasers ought to be able to count on the mark to identify correctly the source (be it a retailer or manufacturer) of goods purchased. Consequently, the central question in trademark disputes
Are Networks Replacing Firms as Organizers of Business Activity?
One of the interesting fallouts of the dynamics described here is that, when viewed through a Coasean theory of the firm lens, stakeholderism looks more like a reactionary than a progressive movement. As transaction costs outside the firm fall, the
Are Networks Replacing Firms as Organizers of Business Activity?
One of the interesting fallouts of the dynamics described here is that, when viewed through a Coasean theory of the firm lens, stakeholderism looks more like a reactionary than a progressive movement. As transaction costs outside the firm fall, the
A Dental Retainer Could Break the Internet? US ITC Patent Follies
This discussion illustrates the way incumbent businesses use 20th Century administrative state remedies to erect barriers to competition from 21st Century upstarts. It also shows the way administrative law is framed by ethical considerations (“unfair” competition) and in turn shapes
A Dental Retainer Could Break the Internet? US ITC Patent Follies
This discussion illustrates the way incumbent businesses use 20th Century administrative state remedies to erect barriers to competition from 21st Century upstarts. It also shows the way administrative law is framed by ethical considerations (“unfair” competition) and in turn shapes
Strippers’ Working Conditions
This first-person account of the working conditions faced by strippers is well worth reading. It is interesting in its own right, as an exploration of the status of workers “on the fringe,” but also worth thinking about this as parallel
Strippers’ Working Conditions
This first-person account of the working conditions faced by strippers is well worth reading. It is interesting in its own right, as an exploration of the status of workers “on the fringe,” but also worth thinking about this as parallel
Who Pays for Paid Parental Leave in Silicon Valley?
The story below leaves a warm and fuzzy feeling. But it’s worth considering who pays for the “free lunch.” The work left behind by parents who get paid parental leave has to be done by someone. And a paid benefit
Who Pays for Paid Parental Leave in Silicon Valley?
The story below leaves a warm and fuzzy feeling. But it’s worth considering who pays for the “free lunch.” The work left behind by parents who get paid parental leave has to be done by someone. And a paid benefit
Apple Aims for More Diversity
How should Apple’s progress toward diversity be judged? Apple wants its workforce to be more diverse. Apple’s leadership team, for example, is currently 72 percent male and 63 percent white. The first thing worth noting is that the company is
Apple Aims for More Diversity
How should Apple’s progress toward diversity be judged? Apple wants its workforce to be more diverse. Apple’s leadership team, for example, is currently 72 percent male and 63 percent white. The first thing worth noting is that the company is
This is NOT Haiti (Tom’s Shoes)
Criticisms of Tom’s Shoes are not new. But this is a new angle. The new campaign shows mostly rich white people enjoying the native beauty of Haiti. A company whose espoused aims include helping the developing nations of the world
This is NOT Haiti (Tom’s Shoes)
Criticisms of Tom’s Shoes are not new. But this is a new angle. The new campaign shows mostly rich white people enjoying the native beauty of Haiti. A company whose espoused aims include helping the developing nations of the world
Business Ethics Highlights 
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