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How Can Business Ethics Strengthen the Social Cohesion of a Society?

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  • Georges Enderle

    (University of Notre Dame
    Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences)

Abstract

The essay aims to show how business ethics—understood as a three-level approach—can strengthen the social cohesion of a society, which is jeopardized today in many ways. In the first part, the purpose of business and the economy is explained as the creation of wealth defined as a combination of private and public wealth that includes natural, economic, human, and social capital. Special emphasis is placed on the implications of the creation of public wealth which requires institutions other than the market and motivations other than self-regarding ones. In the second part, the question of what holds a society together is discussed through different approaches: enlightened self-interest, a new game-theoretical approach, and the concept of the common good advanced by Catholic Social Teaching, followed by my own proposal. The third part presents several perspectives for business ethics to strengthen social cohesion of a society (a) by focusing on the purpose of business and the economy to create natural, economic, human, and social capital; (b) by advancing public goods that stand the test of ethical scrutiny; and (c) by securing human rights conceptualized as public goods.

Suggested Citation

  • Georges Enderle, 2018. "How Can Business Ethics Strengthen the Social Cohesion of a Society?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(3), pages 619-629, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:150:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3196-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3196-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Georges Enderle, 2009. "A Rich Concept of Wealth Creation Beyond Profit Maximization and Adding Value," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(3), pages 281-295, February.
    2. Smith, Adam, 1776. "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations," History of Economic Thought Books, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, number smith1776.
    3. Georges Enderle, 2015. "Exploring and Conceptualizing International Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(4), pages 723-735, April.
    4. repec:elg:eechap:16125_4 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Georges Enderle, 2010. "Wealth Creation in China and Some Lessons for Development Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 96(1), pages 1-15, September.
    6. World Bank, 2011. "The Changing Wealth of Nations : Measuring Sustainable Development in the New Millennium," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2252.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Wendy Stubbs & Frederik Dahlmann & Rob Raven, 2022. "The Purpose Ecosystem and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Interactions Among Private Sector Actors and Stakeholders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 1097-1112, November.
    2. Fu, Tong & Jian, Ze, 2021. "Corruption pays off: How environmental regulations promote corporate innovation in a developing country," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    3. Zhiming Cheng & Ben Zhe Wang & Lucy Taksa, 2021. "Labour Force Participation and Employment of Humanitarian Migrants: Evidence from the Building a New Life in Australia Longitudinal Data," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(4), pages 697-720, February.
    4. Anne Vijver, 2022. "Morality of Lobbying for Tax Benefits: A Kantian Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(1), pages 57-68, November.
    5. Szypulewska-Porczyńska Alina & Zduńska-Leseux Edyta & Horodecka Anna, 2024. "The common good from an economic perspective: Insights from EU policies during the COVID-19," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 60(2), pages 123-131.
    6. Nazli Mohammad & Yvonne Stedham, 2021. "Relationship between Cultural Values, Sense of Community and Trust and the Effect of Trust in Workplace," Working Papers hal-03257439, HAL.
    7. Klopotan Igor & Aleksić Ana & Vinković Nikolina, 2020. "Do Business Ethics and Ethical Decision Making Still Matter: Perspective of Different Generational Cohorts," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 31-43, March.

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