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Economics and ethics

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Abstract

Business theory and management practices are outgrowths of basic economic principles. To evaluate the proper place of ethics in business, the meaning of ethics as defined by economic theory must be assessed. This paper contends that classical economic thought advocates a nonethical decision-making context and is not functional for a modern complex, interdependent environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Widener University, The Pennsylvannia Campus, 19013, Chester, PA, USA

    B. J. Reilly & M. J. Kyj

Authors
  1. B. J. Reilly
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  2. M. J. Kyj
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Additional information

Bernard J. Reilly, Professor of Management and Health Policy, came to Widener in September of 1980. Since coming to Widener he has published and presented over 90 professional papers in the fields of management and health administration, in such journals as Academy of Management Review, Inquiry, Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, Human Relations, Hospital and Health Services Administration, Social Science and Medicine, Personnel, etc., and at several national conferences on organizational behavior and health policy. He is presently working on two books, the first on modern management principles, and the second on corporate business ethics. Recently, Dr. Reilly was awarded the Christian R. and Mary K. Lindback Foundation Award for distinguished teaching. Forthcoming articles will appear in Business and Professional Ethics Journal and Technology Management.

Myroslaw J. Kyj, Associate Professor of Marketing at Widener University, has been involved in the research areas of the use of customer service in competition, pre-conditions for marketing channels and the inter-play between marketing, ethics, and social responsibility. Dr. Kyj has recently published several articles in such journals as Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Marketing, Journal of Services Marketing, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, and a forthcoming article in Business Horizons.

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Reilly, B.J., Kyj, M.J. Economics and ethics. J Bus Ethics 9, 691–698 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386351

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