Monthly Archives: February 2016

Disneyland’s New Pricing Model: Gouging or Better Customer Service?

This Consumerist piece is indicative of the journalistic tendency to misunderstand the role of pricing, generally, and the role of peak-load pricing (like Uber’s “surge” pricing), particularly. Throughout, the writer hints that Disney’s effort to price more popular days at

Disneyland’s New Pricing Model: Gouging or Better Customer Service?

This Consumerist piece is indicative of the journalistic tendency to misunderstand the role of pricing, generally, and the role of peak-load pricing (like Uber’s “surge” pricing), particularly. Throughout, the writer hints that Disney’s effort to price more popular days at

NLRB vs Its Own Union: Should Gov’t Agencies Practice What They Preach?

At first, one is tempted to cry “hypocrisy!” and move on, but this news item could be fodder for two interesting discussions. The first is about when and under what conditions public-sector actors are or ought to be subject to

NLRB vs Its Own Union: Should Gov’t Agencies Practice What They Preach?

At first, one is tempted to cry “hypocrisy!” and move on, but this news item could be fodder for two interesting discussions. The first is about when and under what conditions public-sector actors are or ought to be subject to

Apple’s Corporate Citizenship: A duty to the state, or the people?

Many companies claim to want to be “good corporate citizens.” But just what does that entail? Some might think that that implies, for example, helping out a government in trying to bring a criminal to justice. After all, don’t good

Apple’s Corporate Citizenship: A duty to the state, or the people?

Many companies claim to want to be “good corporate citizens.” But just what does that entail? Some might think that that implies, for example, helping out a government in trying to bring a criminal to justice. After all, don’t good

Should CEO Apologies Be Warm and Sincere?

In the wake of scandal, what could be better than a heartfelt apology? Well, from a shareholder’s point of view, apparently the lack of a heartfelt apology might be better. Sure, you, dear random member of the public, might like

Should CEO Apologies Be Warm and Sincere?

In the wake of scandal, what could be better than a heartfelt apology? Well, from a shareholder’s point of view, apparently the lack of a heartfelt apology might be better. Sure, you, dear random member of the public, might like

Apple vs the FBI: Consequences vs Rights & Duties

The story linked below focuses on the fact that Apple’s has two good reasons for refusing to work with the FBI to unlock a shooting suspect’s iPhone, namely a principled reason (privacy) and a prudential reason (boosting profits by boosting

Apple vs the FBI: Consequences vs Rights & Duties

The story linked below focuses on the fact that Apple’s has two good reasons for refusing to work with the FBI to unlock a shooting suspect’s iPhone, namely a principled reason (privacy) and a prudential reason (boosting profits by boosting

Fast Food and Animal Rights

Does a move, by just one or two restaurant chains, toward cage-free eggs matter? A big move by a big restaurant chain sounds like a big deal. But even a big move might only amount to a ‘drop in a

Fast Food and Animal Rights

Does a move, by just one or two restaurant chains, toward cage-free eggs matter? A big move by a big restaurant chain sounds like a big deal. But even a big move might only amount to a ‘drop in a

OpEd: Must a Good Business Education Be Anti-Business?

Whatever its overall merits, this Wall Street Journal op-ed by a recent graduate of a top undergraduate business program offers food for thought and fodder for discussion about what a business education – and what a business ethics course –

OpEd: Must a Good Business Education Be Anti-Business?

Whatever its overall merits, this Wall Street Journal op-ed by a recent graduate of a top undergraduate business program offers food for thought and fodder for discussion about what a business education – and what a business ethics course –

Rating Employees’ Ethical Behaviour

A move by a major corporation to reward employees for ethical behaviour is bound to attract attention; but we have lots of questions about the story linked below. Who will do the ratings? Based on what? How will they measure

Rating Employees’ Ethical Behaviour

A move by a major corporation to reward employees for ethical behaviour is bound to attract attention; but we have lots of questions about the story linked below. Who will do the ratings? Based on what? How will they measure

Unethical Recruitment Practices of College Football Teams

Should a businessperson’s word be as good as a contract? And should universities be held to a higher standard than the average businessperson in this regard? Those are just some of the questions that arise in this story of broken

Unethical Recruitment Practices of College Football Teams

Should a businessperson’s word be as good as a contract? And should universities be held to a higher standard than the average businessperson in this regard? Those are just some of the questions that arise in this story of broken

Is it Ethical to take Government Bailouts… Again and Again?

At what point should we say that enough is enough? Companies sometimes seek government bailouts. And governments sometimes give them. And sometimes, maybe, that’s a good thing. It’s still debated (and debatable) whether the US government’s bailout of certain “too-big-to-fail”

Is it Ethical to take Government Bailouts… Again and Again?

At what point should we say that enough is enough? Companies sometimes seek government bailouts. And governments sometimes give them. And sometimes, maybe, that’s a good thing. It’s still debated (and debatable) whether the US government’s bailout of certain “too-big-to-fail”