Between Ethics and Economics

Proposes a more balanced approach to business ethics that respects both moral values and economic realities in decision-making.

Bridging contemporary debates in business ethics with broader scholarship in the fields of ethics and economics, this book explores enduring questions around key issues such as the profit motive, justice in prices and wages, market harms, the limited liability corporation, and corporate social responsibility.What ethical norms and obligations apply to economic agents such as companies and consumers? This question sits between two distinct strands of thought: ethics and economics. While economic behaviour often centres on self-interest and competition, ethical thinking emphasises empathy and cooperation. Business ethics seeks to bridge this divide—but past approaches have leaned too heavily toward either moral idealism or economic detachment. This book proposes a more balanced framework, where both ethical and economic reasoning have their place. Drawing on historical and contemporary debates, the authors examine key issues including the profit motive, justice in prices and wages, market harms, the limited liability corporation, and corporate social responsibility. The resulting theory is sensitive to the unique moral dynamics of market contexts and their broader societal consequences. Between Ethics and Economics is essential reading for anyone interested in how ethics and economics intersect in today's marketplace.