bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous assimilation of satellite NO2, O3, CO, and HNO3 data for the analysis of tropospheric chemical composition and emissions
Authors: Miyazaki K. , Eskes H. J. , Sudo K. , Takigawa M. , van Weele M. , Boersma K. F.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. We have developed an advanced chemical data assimilation system to combine observations of chemical compounds from multiple satellites. NO2, O3, CO, and HNO3 measurements from the OMI, TES, MOPITT, and MLS satellite instruments are assimilated into the global chemical transport model CHASER for the years 2006–2007. The CHASER data assimilation system (CHASER-DAS), based on the local ensemble transform Kalman filter technique, simultaneously optimizes the chemical species, as well as the emissions of O3 precursors, while taking their chemical feedbacks into account. With the available datasets, an improved description of the chemical feedbacks can be obtained, especially related to the NOx-CO-OH-O3 set of chemical reactions. Comparisons against independent satellite, aircraft, and ozonesonde data show that the data assimilation results in substantial improvements for various chemical compounds. These improvements include a reduced negative tropospheric NO2 column bias (by 40–85%), a reduced negative CO bias in the Northern Hemisphere (by 40–90%), and a reduced positive O3 bias in the middle and upper troposphere (from 30–40% to within 10%). These changes are related to increased tropospheric OH concentrations by 5–15% in the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere in July. Observing System Experiments (OSEs) have been conducted to quantify the relative importance of each data set on constraining the emissions and concentrations. The OSEs confirm that the assimilation of individual data sets results in a strong influence on both assimilated and non-assimilated species through the inter-species error correlation and the chemical coupling described by the model.
Characteristics of tropospheric ozone depletion events in the Arctic spring: analysis of the ARCTAS, ARCPAC, and ARCIONS measurements and satellite BrO observations
Authors: Koo J.-H. , Wang Y. , Kurosu T. P. , Chance K. , Rozanov A. , Richter A. , Oltmans S. J. , Thompson A. M. , Hair J. W. , Fenn M. A. , Weinheimer A. J. , Ryerson T. B. , Solberg S. , Huey L. G. , Liao J. , Dibb J. E. , Neuman J. A. , Nowak J. B. , Pierce R. B. , Natarajan M. , Al-Saadi J.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Arctic ozone depletion events (ODEs) are due to catalytic ozone loss driven by halogen chemistry. The presence of ODEs is affected not only by in situ chemistry but also by transport including advection of ozone-poor air mass and vertical mixing. To better characterize the ODEs, we analyze the combined set of surface, ozonesonde, and aircraft in situ measurements of ozone and bromine compounds during the Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites (ARCTAS) and the Aerosol, Radiation, and Cloud Processes affecting Arctic Climate (ARCPAC) experiments (April 2008). Tropospheric BrO columns retrieved from satellite measurements and back trajectories calculations are used to investigate the characteristics of observed ODEs. The implications of the analysis results for the validation of the retrieval of tropospheric column BrO are also discussed. Time-lagged correlation analysis between in situ (surface and ozonesonde) measurements of ozone and satellite derived tropospheric BrO indicates that the ODEs are due to either local halogen-driven ozone loss or short-range (~1 day) transport from nearby regions with ozone depletion. The effect of in situ halogen-driven loss is also evident in the diurnal variation of surface ozone concentrations at Alert, Canada. High-BrO regions revealed by satellite measurements tend to be collocated with first-year sea ice, particularly over the Chukchi Sea. Aircraft observations indicate low-ozone air mass transported from these high-BrO regions. Correlation analyses of ozone with potential temperature and time-lagged tropospheric BrO column show that the vertical extent of local ozone loss is surprisingly deep (1–2 km) at Resolute and Churchill, Canada. The unstable boundary layer during ODEs at Churchill could potentially provide a source of free tropospheric BrO through convective transport and explain the significant negative correlation between free tropospheric ozone and tropospheric BrO column at this site.
An eddy-stimulated hotspot for fixed nitrogen-loss from the Peru oxygen minimum zone
Authors: Altabet M. A. , Ryabenko E. , Stramma L. , Wallace D. W. R. , Frank M. , Grasse P. , Lavik G.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Fixed nitrogen (N) loss to biogenic N2 in intense oceanic O2 minimum zones (OMZ) accounts for a large fraction of the global N sink and is an essential control on the ocean's N budget. However, major uncertainties exist regarding microbial pathways as well as net impact on the magnitude of N-loss and the ocean's overall N budget. Here we report the discovery of a N-loss hotspot in the Peru OMZ associated with a coastally trapped mesoscale eddy that is marked by an extreme N deficit matched by biogenic N2 production, high NO2− levels, and the highest isotope enrichments observed so far in OMZ's for the residual NO3−. High sea surface chlorophyll (SSC) in seaward flowing streamers provides evidence for offshore eddy transport of highly productive, inshore water. Resulting pulses in the downward flux of particles likely stimulated heterotrophic dissimilatory NO3− reduction and subsequent production of biogenic N2. The associated temporal/spatial heterogeneity of N-loss, mediated by a local succession of microbial processes, may explain inconsistencies observed among prior studies. Similar transient enhancements of N-loss likely occur within all other major OMZ's exerting a major influence on global ocean N and N isotope budgets.
Triplicated P-wave measurements for waveform tomography of the mantle transition zone
Authors: Stähler S. C. , Sigloch K. , Nissen-Meyer T.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Triplicated body waves sample the mantle transition zone more extensively than any other wave type, and interact strongly with the discontinuities at 410 km and 660 km. Since the seismograms bear a strong imprint of these geodynamically interesting features, it is highly desirable to invert them for structure of the transition zone. This has rarely been attemped, due to the mismatch between the complex and bandlimited data and the (ray-theoretical) modeling methods. Here we present a data processing and modeling strategy to harness such broadband seismograms for finite-frequency tomography. We include triplicated P-waves (epicentral distance range between 14 and 30°) across their entire broadband frequency range, for both deep and shallow sources. We show that it is possible to predict the complex sequence of arrivals in these seismograms, but only after a careful effort to estimate source time functions and other source parameters from data, variables that strongly influence the waveforms. Modeled and observed waveforms then yield decent cross-correlation fits, from which we measure finite-frequency traveltime anomalies. We discuss two such data sets, for North America and Europe, and conclude that their signal quality and azimuthal coverage should be adequate for tomographic inversion. In order to compute sensitivity kernels at the pertinent high body-wave frequencies, we use fully numerical forward modelling of the seismic wavefield through a spherically symmetric earth.
Student Entrepreneurship Clusters
Authors: Léger-Jarniou Catherine
Published: July 2012

Widespread demand has recently arisen for measures to be taken to provide students in higher education with the opportunity to acquire entrepreneurial skills. Echoes of this demand are to be found in recent work produced by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and in the desire expressed in 2010 by the French government to set up ‘Student Entrepreneurship Clusters’ in the country's universities. In this paper a description of the objectives defined for these clusters is followed by an examination of the feasibility of a new offer targeting, in a given region, students in different academic years studying for different qualifications. The manner in which entrepreneurial skills are acquired is analysed with a view to developing a systematic picture of the process. Finally, the issue of assessing students' acquisition of entrepreneurial skills is also addressed.
Building Knowledge Exchange Capacity in a Small UK University
Authors: Davis Sally Fowler
Published: July 2012

The UK's university sector is seeking to improve its participation in the knowledge economy and meet policy and financial imperatives. This paper reveals some of the opportunities and pitfalls in making that objective a reality in the context of a single university. The findings and organizational development resulting from an action research project undertaken in a small learning and teaching oriented university in the UK are outlined. The aim of the research was to facilitate an increased capacity for knowledge exchange and participation in enterprise activity. Action research was undertaken in a single organization and in collaboration with the university's academic workforce. The outcomes of an initial survey and a series of interviews were used to create a strategic proposal for developing knowledge exchange. The data revealed that a predominantly professionally-oriented academic staff was prepared to accept external engagement and was not averse to commercial outcomes for knowledge exchange. In contrast, the senior management was unwilling to establish systems and processes or enable organizational learning for knowledge exchange until a complete system restructure had been implemented; and this resulted in a very senior appointment (Pro Vice-Chancellor) being made, to lead external engagement.
Evaluating Entrepreneurship Education Programmes in Developing Countries
Authors: Braun Gerald
Published: July 2012

Although a great deal of time, resources and effort goes into the education of potential or existing entrepreneurs, our knowledge of the effects of this education is still rather limited. It can be argued that an imbalance exists between the substantial amount of finance and manpower invested in entrepreneurship education programmes and the very limited amount of resources invested in the evaluation of these programmes (that is, in analyses of their impact). Based on intercultural research and the personal experiences of the author in the evaluation of entrepreneurship education programmes (EEPs) in developing countries, this paper analyses competing approaches of entrepreneurship education; develops a methodological framework for evaluating these approaches; discusses the main findings of EEP evaluation studies carried out in Brazil, Chile, Kenya, the Philippines and Vietnam; presents ‘lessons learned’ with respect to theoretical and methodological foundations of EEP evaluations and practical problems concerning their implementation; and draws general conclusions for future research and practice. The intercultural evaluations are based on a ‘most different systems’ approach, applying a mix of quantitative (questionnaires with open and closed questions) and qualitative (in-depth interviews, on-site-visits, focus-group discussions) tools of social research.
The Relationship between Self-Perceived Generic Competences and Entrepreneurial Intention
Authors: Kakkonen Marja-Liisa
Published: July 2012

This paper reports on a qualitative study in Finland of the relationship between self-perceived generic competences and the entrepreneurial intentions of business students when they started their Bachelor's degree studies. The study was based on course-related written assignments of one international student group. The findings illustrated three different types of student competence profiles: independent achievers, social team players and dependent individuals; and they also created a starting point for the later examination of competence development.
Entrepreneurship as a Dynamic System
Authors: Oganisjana Karine , Matlay Harry
Published: July 2012

Entrepreneurship, as an important aspect of modern economic thought, is often described as facilitating innovation, job creation and national prosperity. Given the current economic conditions in Europe, entrepreneurship growth and small business development are seen as synonymous with economic recovery and growth. Consequently, in recent years entrepreneurship has climbed steadily towards the top of political agendas in Eastern, Central and Western Europe. In turn, entrepreneurship education has emerged as the most cost-effective and speedy way to increase both the quality and quantity of entrepreneurs entering an economy. The education and development of entrepreneurial students has become a topical and much debated European issue, despite the conceptual vagueness and controversial aspects highlighted by entrepreneurship education researchers. In this article the authors postulate that entrepreneurship represents more than an accumulation of relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes. Instead, entrepreneurship is envisaged as lifelong learning and conceptualized in terms of the continuous development of an individual's key entrepreneurial competences. Thus, entrepreneurship education emerges as a dynamic system of lifelong learning steps and entrepreneurship components which are to be developed holistically in order to enhance its impact on entrepreneurial outcomes.
Assessment of Farmland Afforestation in the Upstream Yangtze River, China
Authors: Fang Shi-Bo , Yang Wu-Nian , Zhang Xin-Shi
Published: July 2012

The conversion of marginal farmland in China to forest or grassland has been in progress for more than 10 years, but the effects and problems of afforestation need to be investigated so as to affirm and improve farmland afforestation in China's Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011–2015). According to results from remote sensing and field studies in one county, the local government-registered farmland area was much greater than the actual afforested area. This is likely to be linked to the subsidy payments available for afforestation. The most serious problems are the cultivation of exotic fast-growing forest species (not native pioneer species) selected for forest planting, and the use of single-species rather than mixed plantations. Afforestation of farmland is a systematic, long-term and complicated process, which needs to be performed step by step. The proportion and position of afforested land in the study area were analysed quantitatively on the basis of soil fertility, variation in ecological significance and different soil erosion levels. In light of the findings, the authors discuss how to prioritize afforestation areas.
Economics of Fragmented Land for Vegetable Growers in Skopje and the Southeastern Region of the Republic of Macedonia
Authors: Hristov Jordan , Andersson Hans , Gjosevski Dragan
Published: July 2012

This paper examines the influence of land fragmentation on the value of vegetables produced in the Skopje and Southeastern regions of the Republic of Macedonia. The analysis uses models such as a Cobb-Douglas production function as well as a General Linear Model. The findings support a negative and statistically significant impact of land fragmentation on the productivity and profitability of vegetable production in the study area. A reduction from 0.43 to 0.2 of the Simpson index, on average, increases vegetable production by approximately 7.06%. However, the results reveal that land is of somewhat less importance due to the opportunity to use greenhouse technology. The results based on the linear model reveal that the introduction of greenhouse technology increases the value of production by around 32%. Nevertheless, appropriate policies ought to promote successful land consolidation further.
Resource Scarcity Gradients and Agricultural Technologies
Authors: Erenstein Olaf
Published: July 2012

The green revolution converted the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) into South Asia's cereal basket. The recent slowdown in cereal productivity growth and continuing poverty in the IGP pose a major challenge to agricultural research and development. In addressing this challenge, it is useful to revisit the resource scarcities that farmers face across the vast IGP. A scoping study using village surveys in 12 clusters along an agro-ecological gradient in the Indian IGP and secondary data suggest some marked gradients in factor ratios and factor prices. Labour–land factor ratios and price ratios alone, however, can be misleading as they fail to capture the increasingly important role of capital in the post-green revolution setting. Relative to other IGP regions, the green revolution heartland is relatively capital-abundant, explaining the advent of both land-saving and labour-saving technologies in the north-western IGP. Further downstream, the densely populated eastern IGP are particularly capital-scarce. Agricultural innovations emerging from either area are unlikely to be directly adequate for the other, calling for more investment in adaptive agricultural research to develop innovations in line with the prevailing resource scarcities.
Role of Livelihood Capital in Shaping the Farming Strategies and Outcomes of Smallholder Rubber Producers in Southern Thailand
Authors: Longpichai Onanong , Perret Sylvain Roger , Shivakoti Ganesh Prasad
Published: July 2012

This paper assesses the role of livelihood capital in shaping farming strategies and determining farming outcomes for smallholder rubber producers in southern Thailand. The authors find a positive relationship between the access level of livelihood capital and levels of diversification. The diversification and integration of rubber-based farming systems result in higher production and farm income. Specialization in rubber monoculture derives from an overall low endowment of livelihood capital, which generates poor farming outcomes. The paper assesses the relative efficiency of farms' ability to maximize income and production using data envelopment analysis. Diversified, integrated rubber farming systems confirm higher techno-economic efficiency scores, thus supporting the need for further policy and support measures. Diversification and crop integration should be supported as a pathway for sustaining farmers' livelihood.
Are CAP Decoupling Policies Really Production-Neutral?
Authors: Katranidis Stelios D. , Kotakou Christina A.
Published: July 2012

This paper examines the effects of decoupling policies on Greek cotton production with the hypothesis that producers face uncertainty regarding output prices. The authors simulate the effects on cotton production under four contrasting policy scenarios: an ‘old’ Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regime (that is, the policy practised until 2005), a Mid-Term Review regime, a fully decoupled policy regime and a free trade–no policy scenario. The results show that, when farmers are less risk-averse, production gradually decreases as farmers' support becomes decoupled from production. On the other hand, when farmers are more risk-averse, the opposite occurs. Moreover, the fully decoupled payment policy is found not to be production-neutral, since it indirectly affects producers' decisions through the ‘wealth effect’.
Towards Agricultural Innovation Systems: Designing an Operational Interface
Authors: Chave M. , Ozier-Lafontaine H. , Noël Y.
Published: July 2012

The usual linear top-down approach of the innovation process has been transformed into an ‘ecological vision’ in which regions make up the appropriate scale for the elaboration of agricultural innovation systems (AIS). Interfaces such as institutional arrangements have been created in industrial countries. However, there is still a lack of interaction among parties involved in innovation for the agricultural sector, especially in the outermost regions and in developing countries. Agronomic research institutes have proposed an original approach supported by information and action support tools to pave the way for the transition to co-innovation.
Acceptability of Amaranth Grain-based Nutritious Complementary Foods with Dagaa Fish (Rastrineobola argentea) and Edible Termites (Macrotermes subhylanus) Compared to Corn Soy Blend Plus among Young Children/Mothers Dyads in Western Kenya
Authors: Konyole Silvenus O. , Kinyuru John N. , Owuor Bethwell O. , Kenji Glaston M. , Onyango Christine A. , Estambale Benson B. , Friis Henrik , Roos Nanna , Owino Victor O.
Published: July 2012

We assessed acceptability of two flours and porridges of complementary foods based on germinated grain amaranth and maize with or without edible termites and dagaa small fish named “Winfood Classic” (WFC) and “Winfood Lite” (WFL), respectively, compared to Corn Soy Blend Plus (CSB+) among mothers and young children. A total of 57 children consumed each of the three foods on separate days with one-day washout between foods. Each food was considered acceptable if the child consumed at least 75% of the serving. Most mothers preferred WFL flour and porridge (63.2% and 70.2%, respectively) compared to WFC (24.4% and 10.5%) and CSB+ (12.3% and 19.3%). Children consuming at least 75% of served porridge were 43%, 19.6% and 21% for WFL, WFC and CSB+, respectively. No adverse effects were observed for all the foods throughout the study period and follow up lasting 4 weeks. All foods were acceptable and can be further developed and be tested for efficacy.
Quality Retention and Shelf-life Extension in Mediterranean Cucumbers Coated with a Pectin-based Film
Authors: Moalemiyan M. , Ramaswamy H. S.
Published: July 2012

Edible coating is a simple and inexpensive concept for extending post-harvest life of fruits and vegetables. In this study, cucumbers were coated with different pectin-based emulsions to preserve the fruit quality and extend the post harvest shelf life. The formulations consisted of pectin, beeswax, sorbitol, water, and an emulsifying agent. By monitoring the physiological and quality parameters, the coating effects on the storability of cucumber fruits at 23°C and 40% RH (display cabinet), and 12°C and 85% RH (cold room) were determined. The parameters included weight loss, respiration rate, firmness, color, soluble solids and chlorophyll content. The coating markedly reduced weight loss and respiration rate at both temperatures. In addition, the coating reduced loss of firmness, color, chlorophyll and total soluble solids, and extended the storage life of cucumber fruits at both storage conditions.
Evaluation of Some Heavy Metals in Imported Chocolate and Candies Sold in Nigeria
Authors: Ochu J. O. , Uzairu A. , Kagbu J. A. , Gimba C. E. , Okunola O. J.
Published: July 2012

This study was initiated as a follow-up information on some impounded products chocolates and candies (Samples A, B, C and D) imported from overseas, and sold in Nigeria markets. This result as their failure to meets Nation Agency for food drug administration and control (NAFDAC) regulatory standard. Samples of these products were collected in five markets of each six states each from the six geographical zones: North-West (Bauchi), North-East (Kano), North-Central (Kogi), South-West (Lagos), South-East (Abia), and South-South (Rivers) of the country. In order to evaluate the quality of the products, the levels of some heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Ti and Cr) were evaluated in the samples using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Concentrations of metals in both chocolates and candies ranged 3.0 – 4.2 mg/g for Cu, 40.0 – 55.7 mg/g for Mn, ND – 102.5 mg/g for Fe, ND – 305.0 mg/g for Ni, ND – 42.5 mg/g for Zn, ND – 23.8 mg/g for Ti, and ND – 10.8 mg/g for Cr. The results showed that that these metals are at higher levels in Samples A, B, C and D compared to other studies in candies and chocolates in Nigeria. Correlation analysis among metals revealed positive correlations, which indicates similar sources of these metals. Also, evaluation of dietary intake of these products daily revealed that Samples A (except for Cu), B and C are above the daily dietary recommended limit for all the studied metals in food. Thus a frequent intake of these contaminated products is likely to induce health effects arising largely from Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni and Zn.
Comparison of Conventional and Rapid Methods for Salmonella Detection in Artisanal Minas Cheese
Authors: Mata Gardênia M. S. C. , Vanetti Maria Cristina D.
Published: July 2012

Artisanal cheeses traditionally produced from raw milk have a diverse microbiota and, due the varied changes that occur in this type of food matrix during the maturation, pathogens detection’s may be impaired. In this study, the conventional method established by ISO 6579:2005 to evaluate the presence of Salmonella was compared with two alternative rapid methods, PCR-BAX® (DuPont) and VIDAS®-SLM (BioMérieux), to analyze artisanal Minas cheese, a typical Brazilian product. Salmonella was not detected by conventional or PCR-BAX® in 63 artisanal Minas cheese samples analyzed. Although highly specific and accurate, the immunoassay (VIDAS®-SLM) presented 3.17% of false positives. Good manufactures practices were absent in some producers of Minas artisanal cheese and, the fact of Salmonella was not detected in analyzed samples should be related with presence of high and diverse endogenous microbiota, including approximately, 107 CFU.g-1 of lactic bacteria, and a low pH and water activity, conditions that can minimize pathogens growth, provide cellular injury and hamper the recovery strategies.
Initial Public Offerings as a Web of Conflicts of Interest: An Empirical Assessment
Authors: Dalton Dan R. , Certo S. Trevis , Daily Catherine M.
Published: July 2012

While a ubiquitous phenomenon, initial public offerings (IPOs) have received no attention in the ethics literature. We provide an overview of a series of potential conflicts of interest that pervade the IPO process. We also report the results of an empirical assessment of IPOs and those elements that may inform a substantive moral hazard faced by key players in the period prior to and just after an IPO.
Introduction: Special Issue on Finance
Authors: Boatright John R. , Peterson Jeffrey
Published: July 2012

This special issue of Business Ethics Quarterly on ethics in finance was planned before the high profile scandals at Enron, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Tyco, and Arthur Andersen, among other firms. Although these unfortunate events make this special issue especially timely, the subject matter of finance ethics has long been in need of scholarly attention. It is ironic that business ethics as an academic field owes its existence in part to the insider trading and junk bond scandals of the 1980s, and yet business ethics scholars have devoted comparatively little attention to financial topics. Now that another wave of ethical failures in finance is upon us, it is appropriate to present this collection of the best work on finance ethics.

From a theoretical point of view, finance is a unique field for ethical exploration. The central activity of finance is financial contracting, in which parties make agreements with regard to the assets that they control. An individual who rents a home, leases a car, buys an insurance policy, invests in a mutual fund, or saves for retirement is entering into a contract with someone who promises something in return. In making these contracts, individuals are assumed by finance theorists to be entirely self-interested and opportunistic, which is to say that they will renege on their promises if they can do so safely. The response of rational contractors, therefore, is to build in safeguards to ensure compliance with the agreements made.
Making a Difference or Making a Statement? Finance Research and Socially Responsible Investment
Authors: Rivoli Pietra
Published: July 2012

What does socially responsible investing (SRI) accomplish for investors and for society? Proponents of SRI claim that the practice yields competitive portfolio returns for investors, while at the same time achieving better outcomes for society at large. Skeptics view SRI as ineffective at best and ill-conceived marketing hype at worst. My objective in this paper is to apply mainstream finance research findings to the question of whether SRI may be expected to lead to superior social outcomes. I conclude that under the perfect markets assumptions underlying most finance theory, SRI will not affect social outcomes. However, given well documented imperfections in equity markets, the claim that SRI “makes a difference” to society is a reasonable one that is consistent with current theoretical and empirical research in finance.
A Single Framework for Strategic and Ethical Behavior in the International Context
Authors: Reynolds Scott J.
Published: July 2012

Scholars have developed many theories of international strategy and many theories of international ethics. Separating strategy and ethics in this way, though, perpetuates a perception that profit and ethics are mutually exclusive. Accordingly, I offer a framework that links international strategy and international ethics. I suggest that at an abstract level the strategic concepts of integration and responsiveness and the ethical concepts of justice and caring are concerned with the same theoretical quandaries. Therefore, in any situation there are behaviors that are both integrative and just and/or both responsive and caring, and these behaviors are both strategic and ethical. To demonstrate the potential descriptive and prescriptive value of the framework, I descend the ladders of abstraction associated with these concepts and apply the framework to two business situations.
A Critique of Social Products Liability
Authors: Sollars Gordon G.
Published: July 2012

It has been suggested that a new form of moral responsibility, labeled “social products liability,” is relevant to business ethics. In particular, this kind of responsibility might justify recent legal claims against firearm manufacturers. This paper argues that, as it has been presented, social products liability must rest upon utilitarian considerations or on a deeper, more complete theory of moral responsibility. In the first case, a new form of responsibility seems unnecessary, since liability could be directly apportioned on utilitarian grounds. In the second case, proponents of social products liability face the tasks of presenting the more complete theory and then anchoring social products liability to it.
The Law and Ethics of K Street: Lobbying, the First Amendment, and the Duty to Create Just Laws
Authors: Ostas Daniel T.
Published: July 2012

This article explores the law and ethics of lobbying. The legal discussion examines disclosure regulations, employment restrictions, bribery laws, and anti-fraud provisions as each applies to the lobbying context. The analysis demonstrates that given the social value placed on the First Amendment, federal law generally affords lobbyists wide latitude in determining who, what, when, where, and how to lobby.

This article explores the law and ethics of lobbying. The legal discussion examines disclosure regulations, employment restrictions, bribery laws, and anti-fraud provisions as each applies to the lobbying context. The analysis demonstrates that given the social value placed on the First Amendment, federal law generally affords lobbyists wide latitude in determining who, what, when, where, and how to lobby.
Kasky V. Nike and the Quarrelsome Question of Corporate Free Speech
Authors: Mayer Don
Published: July 2012

In the Kasky case, the Supreme Court of California determined that Nike, Inc., might be accountable in a civil action for misleading statements that it made to the press and to the public about its operations in Southeast Asia. The Kasky case is examined here in its legal and ethical aspects. The U.S. Supreme Court's First Amendment cases that distinguish between commercial speech and political speech are explained, and the arguments in favor of greater protection for Nike's statements about its overseas operations are evaluated in light of Donaldson and Dunfee's integrative social contracts theory. The hypernorm of “necessary social efficiency” is invoked to claim that the arguments made by Nike and various “friends of the court” in favor of greater protection for corporate speech are problematic. Reliable information is the lifeblood of both democracy and efficient free markets. Thus, the more ethical approach is for corporations to support systemic legal reforms that would predictably sanction false and misleading statements in accordance with clear guidelines.
Respect for Workers in Global Supply Chains: Advancing the Debate Over Sweatshops
Authors: Arnold Denis G. , Bowie Norman E.
Published: July 2012

In “Sweatshops and Respect for Persons” we argued on Kantian grounds that managers of multinational enterprises (MNEs) have the following duties: to adhere to local labor laws, to refrain from coercion, to meet minimum health and safety standards, and to pay workers a living wage. In their commentary on our paper Sollars and Englander challenge some of our conclusions. We argue here that several of their criticisms are based on an inaccurate reading of our paper, and that none of the remaining criticisms successfully challenge our main arguments. By highlighting the shortcomings of their arguments we hope to advance discussion of the ethical treatment of workers in global supply chains.
Bringing it All Back Home
Authors: Whalley Peter
Published: July 2012

Not so long ago I interviewed a computer engineer in her home. Surrounded with toys and a napping baby—the interview time had been chosen carefully—she talked about how she worked as an independent contractor for a large electronics company. Connected by high-speed broadband, two telephone lines, and a cell phone, she felt fully integrated into the work, exchanging electronic files with her colleagues and having telephone conversations with customers two continents and umpteen time zones away. She told me she often worked late after the baby was in bed and during the baby's afternoon nap before she went to pick her older child up from school. Despite these odd working times, however, she was convinced that none of the company's customers and only some of her work colleagues knew that she worked at home. She was very contented with the arrangement.
Discourse Ethics and Social Accountability: The Ethics of SA 8000
Authors: Gilbert Dirk Ulrich , Rasche Andreas
Published: July 2012

Based on theoretical insights of discourse ethics as developed by Jürgen Habermas, we delineate a proposal to further develop the institutionalization of social accounting in multinational corporations (MNCs) by means of “Social Accountability 8000” (SA 8000). First, we discuss the cornerstones of Habermas's discourse ethics and elucidate how and why this concept can provide a theoretical justification of the moral point of view in MNCs. Second, the basic conception, main purpose, and implementation procedure of SA 8000 are presented. Third, we critically examine SA 8000 from a Habermasian perspective, and discuss advantages and drawbacks of the initiative. Fourth, to address the drawbacks, we introduce a “discourse-ethically” extended version of SA 8000. We show that this approach is theoretically well-founded and able to overcome some of the current deficits of the certification initiative. We demonstrate that the extended version of SA 8000 can be successfully applied on a cross-cultural basis, and that our findings have significant implications for other international ethics initiatives.
The Cringing and the Craven: Freedom of Expression in, Around, and Beyond the Workplace
Authors: Barry Bruce
Published: July 2012

Work is a place where many adults devote significant portions of their waking lives, but it is also a place where civil liberties, including freedom of speech, are significantly constrained. I examine the regulation and control of expressive activity in and around the workplace from legal, managerial, and ethical perspectives. The focus of this article is onworkplace freedom of expression:the ability to engage in acts of expression at or away from the workplace, on subjects related or unrelated to the workplace, free from the threat of discipline or discharge. I present a taxonomy of workplace-relevant acts of expression, describe the present legal status of workplace expression, review and integrate theoretical perspectives on free speech, drawn mainly from legal theory and philosophy, and critically assess the state of freedom of expression in the workplace, arguing that it is excessively and unnecessarily limited in both law and management practice.
Dialogue: Toward Superior Stakeholder Theory
Authors: Agle Bradley R. , Donaldson Thomas , Freeman R. Edward , Jensen Michael C. , Mitchell Ronald K. , Wood Donna J.
Published: July 2012

A quick look at what is happening in the corporate world makes it clear that the stakeholder idea is alive, well, and flourishing; and the question now is not “if ” but “how” stakeholder theory will meet the challenges of its success. Does stakeholder theory’s “arrival” mean continued dynamism, refinement, and relevance, or stasis? How will superior stakeholder theory continue to develop? In light of these and related questions, the authors of these essays conducted an ongoing dialogue on the current state and future of stakeholder thinking. Beginning with a review of research and theory that has developed since the major stakeholder theorizing efforts of the 1990s, the authors individually offer their perspectives on the key issues relevant today to stakeholder thinking, and to suggest possible approaches that might lead toward and enable the continuing development of superior stakeholder theory.
For-Profit Corporations in a Just Society: A Social Contract Argument Concerning the Rights and Responsibilities of Corporations
Authors: Bishop John Douglas
Published: July 2012

This article develops contractarian business ethics by applying social contract arguments to a specific question: What are the pre-legal (or moral) rights and responsibilities of corporations? The argument uses a hypothetical social contract to show the existence of for-profit corporations in democratic capitalist societies is consistent with Rawls’s fundamental principles of justice. Corporations ought to have recognised their rights to be autonomous, to pursue private purposes, and to engage in economic activities. Corporations have a responsibility to respect the freedom and human rights of all people, and not to interfere with government programs that ensure people have the education and training they need to find and keep corporate employment and that provide a safety-net that prevents destitution. If corporations have any other rights and responsibilities, those rights and responsibilities need to be established by actual social contracts, probably in the form of legitimate democratic processes.
Understanding the Separation Thesis
Authors: Sandberg Joakim
Published: July 2012

Many writers in the field of business ethics seem to have accepted R. Edward Freeman’s argument to the effect that what he calls “the separation thesis,” or the idea that business and morality can be separated in certain ways, should be rejected. In this paper, I discuss how this argument should be understood more exactly, and what position “the separation thesis” refers to. I suggest that there are actually many interpretations (or versions) of the separation thesis going around, ranging from semantic, empirical and reformative to some which are straightforwardly normative. While it is generally agreed that the separation thesis should be rejected, then, there is not as much agreement on what this thesis actually says. I suggest that whether or not we should reject the separation thesis, however, ultimately must depend on how we understand it more exactly—on certain interpretations, the thesis comes out as more or less trivially false, but we should demand more evidence or argument to reject it on certain other interpretations. This result presents a challenge for all those writers who are committed to the rejection of the separation thesis.
Business Ethics and the Brain:Rommel Salvador and Robert G. Folger
Authors: Salvador Rommel , Folger Robert G.
Published: July 2012

Neuroethics, the study of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying ethical decision-making, is a growing field of study. In this review, we identify and discuss four themes emerging from neuroethics research. First, ethical decision-making appears to be distinct from other types of decision-making processes. Second, ethical decision-making entails more than just conscious reasoning. Third, emotion plays a critical role in ethical decision-making, at least under certain circumstances. Lastly, normative approaches to morality have distinct, underlying neural mechanisms. On the basis of these themes, we draw implications for research in business ethics and the practice of ethics training.
Organizational Change, Normative Control Deinstitutionalization, and Corruption
Authors: Martin Kelly D. , Johnson Jean L. , Cullen John B.
Published: July 2012

Despite widespread attention to corruption and organizational change in the literature, to our knowledge, no research has attempted to understand the linkages between these two powerful organizational phenomena. Accordingly, we draw on major theories in ethics, sociology, and management to develop a theoretical framework for understanding how organizational change can sometimes generate corruption. We extend anomie theory and ethical climate theory to articulate the deinstitutionalization of the normative control system and argue that, through this deinstitutionalization, organizations have the potential to become incubators for corruption. We qualify this process by proposing conditions more ripe for anomie and under which this deinstitutionalization is more likely to occur, propounding moderating relationships that influence organizational reconfiguration. Examples of turbulence in the contemporary business environment that can trigger change highlight our discussion. We conclude with managerial implications, offering means by which the deleterious effects of corruption may be arrested or controlled.
Leaving a Legacy: Intergenerational Allocations of Benefits and Burdens
Authors: Wade-Benzoni Kimberly A. , Sondak Harris , Galinsky Adam D.
Published: July 2012

In six experiments, we investigated the role of resource valence in intergenerational attitudes and allocations. We found that, compared to benefits, allocating burdens intergenerationally increased concern with one’s legacy, heightened ethical concerns, intensified moral emotions (e.g., guilt, shame), and led to feelings of greater responsibility for and affinity with future generations. We argue that, because of greater concern with legacies and the associated moral implications of one’s decisions, allocating burdens leads to greater intergenerational generosity as compared to benefits. Our data provide support for this effect across a range of contexts. Our results also indicate that the differential effect of benefits versus burdens in intergenerational contexts depends on the presence of two important structural characteristics that help enact concerns about legacies, including (1) future impact of decisions, and (2) a self-other tradeoff. Overall, our findings highlight how considering resource valence brings to the fore a number of key psychological characteristics of intergenerational decisions—especially as they relate to legacies and ethics.
How Personality and Moral Identity Relate to Individuals’ Ethical Ideology
Authors: McFerran Brent , Aquino Karl , Duffy Michelle
Published: July 2012

Two studies tested the relationship between three facets of personality—conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience—as well as moral identity, on individuals’ ethical ideology. Study 1 showed that moral personality and the centrality of moral identity to the self were associated with a more principled (versus expedient) ethical ideology in a sample of female speech therapists. Study 2 replicated these findings in a sample of male and female college students, and showed that ideology mediated the relationship between personality, moral identity, and two organizationally relevant outcomes: organizational citizenship behavior and the propensity to morally disengage. Implications for business ethics are discussed.
An Instrumental Account of Deception and Reactions to Deceit in Bargaining
Authors: Koning Lukas , Dijk Eric van , Beest Ilja van , Steinel Wolfgang
Published: July 2012

In the current paper we present an instrumental approach to deception. This approach incorporates the notion that bargainers (a) will use deception as a means to reach their goals in bargaining but (b) will refrain from using deception when they have alternative means to reach their goals. We demonstrate that different goals can lead to differences in the use of deception (Experiment 1). Furthermore, we demonstrate that reactions to deceit can also be understood from an instrumental perspective (Experiment 2).
The Price of Equality: Suboptimal Resource Allocations across Social Categories
Authors: Garcia Stephen M. , Bazerman Max H. , Kopelman Shirli , Tor Avishalom , Miller Dale T.
Published: July 2012

This paper explores the influence of social categories on the perceived trade-off between a relatively bad but equal distribution of resources between two parties and a profit maximizing yet unequal one. Studies 1 and 2 showed that people prefer to maximize profits when interacting within their social category, but chose not to maximize individual and joint profits when interacting across social categories. Study 3 demonstrated that outside observers, who were not members of the focal social categories, also were less likely to maximize profits when resources were distributed across social category lines. Study 4 showed that the transaction utility of maximizing profits required greater compensation when resources were distributed across, in contrast to within social categories. We discuss the ethical implications of these decision making biases in the context of organizations.
Recent Work in Ethical Theory and Its Implications for Business Ethics
Authors: Arnold Denis G. , Audi Robert , Zwolinski Matt
Published: July 2012

We review recent developments in ethical pluralism, ethical particularism, Kantian intuitionism, rights theory, and climate change ethics, and show the relevance of these developments in ethical theory to contemporary business ethics. This paper explains why pluralists think that ethical decisions should be guided by multiple standards and why particularists emphasize the crucial role of context in determining sound moral judgments. We explain why Kantian intuitionism emphasizes the discerning power of intuitive reason and seek to integrate that with the comprehensiveness of Kant’s moral framework. And we show how human rights can be grounded in human agency, and explain the connections between human rights and climate change.
Principles and Practices for Corporate Responsibility
Authors: Werhane Patricia H.
Published: July 2012

The first issue of Business Ethics Quarterly was launched in 1991. At that time there were few general principles that could serve as guidelines for global business. However, since 1991 a plethora of such principles have been developed to serve as guidelines and evaluative mechanisms for global corporate responsibilities. But operationalizing these principles in practice has been a challenge for most transnational corporations and even for smaller, more local enterprises. This is because, in some cases, the principles ask too much of companies. In other cases, the principles are ambiguous. And in still other cases, the principles, written by and large from a Western, rights-based perspective, cannot be operationalized in some cultural or religious settings. In this paper I will outline a series of dilemmas multinational enterprises face in the global market place, even when they sincerely sign on to one or another set of principles. These problems are not insurmountable, but in the imperfect world of commerce, require that our expectations of corporate responsibilities be satisficing rather than absolutist.