Yearly Archives: 2015
U.S. Senate Moves to Ban Gag Clauses Barring Negative Web Reviews
The Consumer Review Freedom Act (S. 2044), recently cleared by the Senate Commerce Committee, may be a case study in the ‘market-failures’ approach to business ethics championed by University of Toronto philosopher Joseph Heath. Here, retailers and other merchants have
U.S. Senate Moves to Ban Gag Clauses Barring Negative Web Reviews
The Consumer Review Freedom Act (S. 2044), recently cleared by the Senate Commerce Committee, may be a case study in the ‘market-failures’ approach to business ethics championed by University of Toronto philosopher Joseph Heath. Here, retailers and other merchants have
Don’t Blame Capitalism
The commentary linked below takes issue with notorious anti-capitalist writer Naomi Klein. The author suggests, among other things, that blaming capitalism probably both a) mistakes what capitalism is, and b) helps us forget our own roles in the bad outcomes
Don’t Blame Capitalism
The commentary linked below takes issue with notorious anti-capitalist writer Naomi Klein. The author suggests, among other things, that blaming capitalism probably both a) mistakes what capitalism is, and b) helps us forget our own roles in the bad outcomes
Amazon Should Sell Killer’s Book
Amazon is under fire for selling an ebook that was apparently written by convicted Canadian killer and rapist Paul Bernardo. Some commentators are mentioning free speech in this context, but that’s a red herring. Amazon would be within its rights
Amazon Should Sell Killer’s Book
Amazon is under fire for selling an ebook that was apparently written by convicted Canadian killer and rapist Paul Bernardo. Some commentators are mentioning free speech in this context, but that’s a red herring. Amazon would be within its rights
Walmart and Public Assistance
Why doesn’t the headline below read “Walmart Saves Public Assistance Programs Billions By Giving Receipients Jobs”? There’s something slightly bizarre about setting up public assistance programs to help people who don’t make enough money, and then criticizing employers for the
Walmart and Public Assistance
Why doesn’t the headline below read “Walmart Saves Public Assistance Programs Billions By Giving Receipients Jobs”? There’s something slightly bizarre about setting up public assistance programs to help people who don’t make enough money, and then criticizing employers for the
If sugar pills are outlawed, only outlaws will have sugar pills
The UK’s National Health service is considering banning Homeopathy (though it’s not clear whether “ban” in this context means “forbid entirely” or just “refuse to pay for”. For those who don’t know this, here’s the deal: there’s absolutely no good
If sugar pills are outlawed, only outlaws will have sugar pills
The UK’s National Health service is considering banning Homeopathy (though it’s not clear whether “ban” in this context means “forbid entirely” or just “refuse to pay for”. For those who don’t know this, here’s the deal: there’s absolutely no good
Review of Morality, Competition, and the Firm
Here’s a useful review of Joseph Heath’s terrific book, Morality, Competition, and the Firm. The review is spot-on, and — importantly — provides a wonderfully lucid explanation of the basics of Heath’s “market failures” view, a view that constitutes an
Review of Morality, Competition, and the Firm
Here’s a useful review of Joseph Heath’s terrific book, Morality, Competition, and the Firm. The review is spot-on, and — importantly — provides a wonderfully lucid explanation of the basics of Heath’s “market failures” view, a view that constitutes an
Workers Rights and Interests in the Sharing Economy
What does the future of work hold for the rights and interests of workers? The piece below looks at the benefits of the “on-demand” or “sharing” economy for those who work in it. The key question: of the various rights
Workers Rights and Interests in the Sharing Economy
What does the future of work hold for the rights and interests of workers? The piece below looks at the benefits of the “on-demand” or “sharing” economy for those who work in it. The key question: of the various rights
Detroit Businesses: Stepping Up to Fix Rape Kit Backlog
This is a story about a business community stepping up to help fix a shortcoming at a public agency. Plenty of fodder for discussion, here. Is this action an example of “CSR” (corporate social responsibility)? If so, in which sense?
Detroit Businesses: Stepping Up to Fix Rape Kit Backlog
This is a story about a business community stepping up to help fix a shortcoming at a public agency. Plenty of fodder for discussion, here. Is this action an example of “CSR” (corporate social responsibility)? If so, in which sense?
Ethics of Hotels Blocking Personal Wi-Fi Devices
A number of merchant–customer relationships are conditioned on the customer not bringing competing products to the merchant’s premises. Movie theaters, for example, have signs prohibiting customers bringing “outside” (non-theater-provided) food and drink into the movie theater. Here, first Marriott and
Ethics of Hotels Blocking Personal Wi-Fi Devices
A number of merchant–customer relationships are conditioned on the customer not bringing competing products to the merchant’s premises. Movie theaters, for example, have signs prohibiting customers bringing “outside” (non-theater-provided) food and drink into the movie theater. Here, first Marriott and
The Value of Trust
What’s the dollar value of trust? We all realize that having people we trust around us makes life better — in fact, it makes life bearable! But trust is also crucial for business. The piece linked below contemplates the “dollar
The Value of Trust
What’s the dollar value of trust? We all realize that having people we trust around us makes life better — in fact, it makes life bearable! But trust is also crucial for business. The piece linked below contemplates the “dollar
Business Ethics Highlights 
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