Author Archives: The Editors
Inside the VW Scandal
The article linked below is a spectacular bit of reporting, providing insight into the scandal related to Volkswagen’s years-long effort to cover up its falsification of emissions tests. Anyone who knows just a bit of the literature on the ways
Inside the VW Scandal
The article linked below is a spectacular bit of reporting, providing insight into the scandal related to Volkswagen’s years-long effort to cover up its falsification of emissions tests. Anyone who knows just a bit of the literature on the ways
Neuroscience & Trust
The article below discusses a long series of experiments carried out by the author’s lab, regarding the role of the brain chemical oxytocin in getting individuals to trust each other, and regarding the situational factors that tend to increase oxytocin
Neuroscience & Trust
The article below discusses a long series of experiments carried out by the author’s lab, regarding the role of the brain chemical oxytocin in getting individuals to trust each other, and regarding the situational factors that tend to increase oxytocin
Conscious Consumerism a Lie?
“Conscious consumerism” is an attractive idea. The idea that we all have the power to vote with our dollars regarding the fate of the world is a potentially empowering one. But in practice, things are not so clear. Witness this
Conscious Consumerism a Lie?
“Conscious consumerism” is an attractive idea. The idea that we all have the power to vote with our dollars regarding the fate of the world is a potentially empowering one. But in practice, things are not so clear. Witness this
The Inauthenticity of ‘Authentic’ Food Seeking
Some people seek authentic foods for aesthetic reasons. Others do so for ethical reasons, such as striking a blow against food conglomerates that have allegedly corrupted our food supplies and dining traditions. Here, Bloomberg columnist Megan McArdle invites the reader
The Inauthenticity of ‘Authentic’ Food Seeking
Some people seek authentic foods for aesthetic reasons. Others do so for ethical reasons, such as striking a blow against food conglomerates that have allegedly corrupted our food supplies and dining traditions. Here, Bloomberg columnist Megan McArdle invites the reader
The Philly Soda Tax: Adventures in Unintended Consequences
Philadelphia’s controversial new soda tax offers a lesson in the unintended consequences of “sin” taxes, in (what public-finance scholars call) the border-tax problem, and in tax incidence. Three quick thoughts: (1) Sometimes, political authorities place taxes on disfavored products (e.g.,
The Philly Soda Tax: Adventures in Unintended Consequences
Philadelphia’s controversial new soda tax offers a lesson in the unintended consequences of “sin” taxes, in (what public-finance scholars call) the border-tax problem, and in tax incidence. Three quick thoughts: (1) Sometimes, political authorities place taxes on disfavored products (e.g.,
Myths About the ISO Anti-Bribery Standard
The International Organisation for Standardization recently published its new anti-bribery management systems standard, ISO 37,001. What’s an anti-bribery system, you ask? Many people think avoiding bribery is easy: just don’t do it. But for large organizations, avoiding bribery often means
Myths About the ISO Anti-Bribery Standard
The International Organisation for Standardization recently published its new anti-bribery management systems standard, ISO 37,001. What’s an anti-bribery system, you ask? Many people think avoiding bribery is easy: just don’t do it. But for large organizations, avoiding bribery often means
Is Oracle Putting Its Salesforce Into Commissions Debt?
How ethical are retroactive employment contract clauses? Here, a former Oracle employee avers that Oracle’s standard salesperson contract permits Oracle to retroactively change commission rates, placing in jeopardy previously earned sales commissions. In the extreme case, these changes in previously
Is Oracle Putting Its Salesforce Into Commissions Debt?
How ethical are retroactive employment contract clauses? Here, a former Oracle employee avers that Oracle’s standard salesperson contract permits Oracle to retroactively change commission rates, placing in jeopardy previously earned sales commissions. In the extreme case, these changes in previously
Bribery Penalty Kills Profits at Rolls-Royce
The article below is about the bottom-line implications of getting caught engaging in bribery. It describes how a legal penalty related to bribery drove Rolls-Royce’s financials into the red. Those not familiar with the ethico-legal jargon may not see the
Bribery Penalty Kills Profits at Rolls-Royce
The article below is about the bottom-line implications of getting caught engaging in bribery. It describes how a legal penalty related to bribery drove Rolls-Royce’s financials into the red. Those not familiar with the ethico-legal jargon may not see the
Shades of VW: Did Time Warner Cable Cheat FCC Internet Speed Tests?
File this under “representativeness of the sample”: according to a lawsuit filed by New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Time Warner Cable (TWC) provided modem-leasing internet customers with older-generation cable modems unable to produce the high-speed internet they were
Shades of VW: Did Time Warner Cable Cheat FCC Internet Speed Tests?
File this under “representativeness of the sample”: according to a lawsuit filed by New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Time Warner Cable (TWC) provided modem-leasing internet customers with older-generation cable modems unable to produce the high-speed internet they were
Donald Trump & business ethics
The piece linked below is critical of now-President Donald Trump. Interestingly, it cites his experience as a businessperson as the source of the problem. It’s worth noting that Trump has been a very particular kind of businessperson—namely the head of
Donald Trump & business ethics
The piece linked below is critical of now-President Donald Trump. Interestingly, it cites his experience as a businessperson as the source of the problem. It’s worth noting that Trump has been a very particular kind of businessperson—namely the head of
Business Ethics Highlights 
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