Abstract
Current teaching, writing and thinking in business ethics reflects (more than) a tendency to subsume business into the theoretical, idealistic and impractical objectives of philosophical ethics. Professors Primeaux and Stieber argue against this tendency. They propose the basic business model of economic efficiency as a practical and appropriate paradigm for business ethics. Understood from a behavioral perspective, economic efficiency reflects all of the ethical considerations of the academic study of philosophical ethics, but in a much more concrete and applicable manner. In effect, they are proposing that any study of business ethics defines its starting point and focus of reference in terms of economic efficiency. qu]Is there a need for business ethics? Yes, of course! Can business ethics be taught? Well, yes. But ... But, what? But, how?
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John Stieber is Professor of Finance and Economics at Southern Methodist University's Edwin L. Cox School of Business (Dallas). He has published several articles on the behavioral dimension of economic efficiency; and, he has designed and taught courses in business ethics on both graduate and undergraduate levels. He serves as a consultant to several national firms.
Marist Father Patrick Primeaux was formerly Associate Professor of Theology at Notre Dame Seminary and Visiting Professor at Loyola University (New Orleans). Primeaux has recently been appointed Adjunct Professor of Business Administration at SMU where he teaches a course in business ethics. He is currently Parochial Vicar at saint Louis Church (Saint Paul) while pursuing research in church management and business ethics.
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Stieber, J., Primeaux, P. Economic efficiency: A paradigm for business ethics. J Bus Ethics 10, 335–339 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383234
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383234