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Environmental Ethics and Information Asymmetry among Organizational Stakeholders

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Abstract

This paper addresses the conflicting environmental interests of a firm and the community, an important stakeholder. The short-term profit maximization objective of a firm may stand in contrast with what the community wants – a "safe and clean environment". This paper argues that the information regarding the environmental impact of a firm's products, processes, and waste may be asymmetrically distributed between the firm and the community. The resultant information asymmetry may influence the probability of a firm acting opportunistically, and ultimately, a firm's ethical behavior. The paper identifies information asymmetry between a firm and community, as well as that within the community. The perceived information asymmetry across various community segments may perhaps be a determinant of environmental discrimination. The paper further contends that information asymmetry may diminish in the long run. Finally it examines the implications of information asymmetry for firms and government policy.

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  1. School of Business, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20059, U.S.A.

    Subodh P. Kulkarni

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Kulkarni, S.P. Environmental Ethics and Information Asymmetry among Organizational Stakeholders. Journal of Business Ethics 27, 215–228 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006340624326

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