The Ethics of Business in a Global Economy

Paul M. Minus Overview The papers gathered in this volume were first presented for reflection and discussion at a landmark event in March 1992. The International Conference on the Ethics of Business in a Global Economy, held in Columbus, Ohio, brought together over 300 participants from twenty-two nations in six continents. This was the most geographically diverse body of leaders ever assembled to consider issues of ethics in business. Approximately two-thirds of them were business executives; the others came mainly from the fields of education and religion. Knowing the context from which this book emerged will help readers understand its composition and content. As can be quickly seen, the fourteen authors who have contributed to it come from different areas of the world and from different fields of endeavor. One finds, first, essays on the book's central theme by business leaders from four nations. Next there are analyses of three key topics by scholars active in the fields of economics and ethics. Then come statements by practitioners of four major world religions on the relevance of their respective traditions to the ethics of business. Finally there are six brief case studies prepared by two business ethicists about specific ethical issues arising in international business. The authors address different facets of one of the most dramatic new facts of our time: the globalization of business. With many corporations now operating around the world and others planning a significant expansion of markets, this development is destined to accelerate in coming decades. The Ethics of Business in a Global Economy contains essays by business leaders from four nations. This is followed by analyses of three key topics by scholars active in the fields of economics and ethics, and statements by practitioners of four major world religions on the relevance of their respective traditions to the ethics of business. Finally, there are six brief case studies prepared by two business ethicists about specific ethical issues arising in international business. The authors address different facets of one of the most dramatic new facts of our time, the globalization of business. With many corporations now operating around the world and others planning a significant expansion of markets, this development is destined to accelerate in coming decades. The Ethics of Business in a Global Economy is a valuable resource both for the student of business ethics, as well as for those who want to explore the interrelationship between business, ethics, and religion in order to discover how collaboration between people in these three fields can contribute to a more just society Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction....Pages 1-7 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 The Ethical Challenge to Business in a New Era for Market Economies....Pages 11-20 Ethics in Business—A European Approach....Pages 21-34 The Ethics of Business—An Asian Approach....Pages 35-40 Ethics in Business—A North American Approach....Pages 41-49 Front Matter....Pages 51-51 Does Business Ethics Make Economic Sense?....Pages 53-66 When in Rome, Do...What? International Business and Cultural Relativism....Pages 67-78 Developing Ethical Standards for International Business: What Roles for Business and Government?....Pages 79-95 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 Buddhism and Japanese Economic Ethics....Pages 99-103 A Jewish Perspective for Modern Business Morality....Pages 105-109 Christianity and Business Ethics....Pages 111-116 Business Ethics in Islam....Pages 117-122 Six Business Cases....Pages 123-150 Back Matter....Pages 151-154