Business Ethics Resource Center
I. Introduction
To add to and amplify discussions in my lectures, as well as to help you come up with
and articulate ideas for your term papers, I have collected a number of links to videos and audio
recordings of various lectures and interviews. These I gathered from a variety of sources, but I
found several sites especially useful and I wish to acknowledge them. These include:
1. Econtalk: Russ Roberts, an eminent economist, has for many years interviewed major
economists (including a number of Nobel Laureates) and other scholars on a wide range
of topics — mainly, but not limited to, economics. These interviews are all on the site.
2. Intelligence squared debates: Intelligence Squared is a non-partisan organization that
conducts debates on various issues of concern to public policy. The debates are
scrupulously fair: two panels of two or more experts on opposing sides of an issue try to
convince live audiences of their positions.
3. Khan Academy: this online, free university has video lectures from superstar teachers on
a variety of academic subjects.
4. Open Yale Courses: Yale University has a variety of introductory classes taught by their
faculty and available free on line.
5. Missouri State University: MSU has a number of classroom lectures available for general
viewing, including le3ctures by their law school profs.
6. Journeyman Pictures: this company produces a wide variety of documentaries about
world events and contemporary issues.
7. LearnLiberty.org: This site has numerous short videos on topics in free market
economics.
8. Frontline: this longstanding PBS program investigates various timely topics. Most of its
past episodes are archived and downloadable from its website.
9. Uncommon Knowledge: Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution (at Stanford
University) interviews major intellectuals in a very respectful, judicious manner.
10. Freedom to Choose: a classic PBS series produced in the 1980s, but still fresh and timely.
Milton Friedman presents his classical liberal take on major issues concerning
government and economics, and is then grilled by leading leftist and progressive liberal
scholars and political figures of the day.
11. Penn & Teller: for 8 years, magicians Penn and Teller did a show on Showtime called
“Bullshit!”, which examined various issues, from a libertarian and skeptical point of
view. Warning: these episodes are loaded with coarse language…
12. Howstuffworks: Howstuffworks is a website with videos explaining numerous ideas from
a variety of areas.
13. ProCon.org: ProCon is an organization that fosters debates about key issues. Its purpose
is to neutrally present balanced material that promotes critical thinking.
14. ACDCLeadership: has videos (including “EconMovies”) which explains all the major
concepts of economics.
II. Topics covered in lectures:
A. American business: economics and finance science concepts.
1. Why free market economics (“capitalism”) works:
a. I, Pencil video;. Munger on the division of labor…audio.
b. LearnLiberty on why we exchange…video.
c. Friedman on the role of economic freedom in creating wealth…episode #1
of “Freedom to Choose.”
d. ThinkTank critical history of socialism…video.
e. Otteson on the defects of socialism…audio.
2. Adam Smith:
a. Macfarlane at Cambridge on Smith…video.
b. Phillipson on Adam Smith…audio.
c. Roberts and Fleishacker on Smith’s Wealth of Nations…video.
d. Otteson on Adam Smith…audio.
e. YaleCourses on Adam Smith…video.
f. Nobel Prize winner Vernon Smith on Adam Smith…audio.
g. Roberts on Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments…audio.
3. Incorporation:
a. Prof. Marshall on incorporation…video.
b. Brown on business types part I…video.
c. Brown on business types part II…video.
d. Osgood on why incorporate…video.
4. Publically versus privately-held corporations:
a. Purdue/O’Neill on private vs. public companies…video.
b. Purdue/Kirkwood on public vs. private companies…video.
5. Government sponsored enterprises:
a. RT News definition of GSEs…video.
6. Profits vs. non-profits:
a. Acha on profits vs. nonprofits…video.
7. Cooperatives:
a. ViraquaFoodCoop on coops…video.
b. Heneberry on coops…video.
8. Asset types:
a. Khan Academy bond vs. stock…video.
9. Risk and reward:
a. Khan Academy on risk vs. reward…video.
b. Khan Academy on bankruptcy of business…video.
B. American business: business law basics.
1. Common Law:
a. British panel discussion on the differences between common law and civil
law systems…video.
2. Tort law:
a. Prof. Wiley on tort law (five episodes)…video.
3. The McDonald’s coffee cup case:
a. NYT retrospective report on the McDonald’s coffee cup case…video.
4. Loser pay systems:
a. American Constitution Society panel discussion (very critical) of loser pay
systems…video.
5. Sovereign immunity:
a. Robertson on sovereign immunity…video.
C. Ethical theories.
1. Hedonism:
a. Academy of Ideas lecture on Epicurus…video.
b. Prof. de Botton on Epicurus…video.
c. Prof. Tuggy on Epicurus…video.
d. The School of Life on Epicurus…video.
e. Sadler on Aristippis vs. Epicurus…video.
2. Egoism:
a. Philosophy Tube on Mandeville and psychological egoism…video.
b. Discussion on Hobbes…audio.
c. Short intro lecture to Nietzsche…audio.
d. TeachPhilosophy on psychological egoism…audio.
e. TeachPhilosophy on psychological egoism…part II…evidence…audio.
f. Donahue interview with Ayn Rand…video.
g. Mike Wallace interview of Ayn Rand…video.
3. Applications of egoism:
a. Public choice theory (PCT):
i.
Prof. Boudreaux on PCT…audio.
ii.
Prof. Pennington on PCT…part one video.
iii. Pennington part two…video.
iv.
Pennington part three…video.
v.
Pennington part four…video.
vi.
Prof. Simmons lecture on PCT…video.
vii.
Prof. Munger on PCT…video.
b. Principal/agent (agency) problem:
i.
Prof. Phillips on the principal/agent problem…video.
ii.
BYUbearcubs cute presentation of the problem…video.
iii. Prof. Moy on the problem…video.
c. Moral hazard:
i.
Prof. Kennett on moral hazard…video.
ii.
CFPE lecture on moral hazard by government…video.
iii. UT clip on moral hazard…video.
4. Utilitarianism:
a. Prof. Tuggy on J. S. Mill…video.
5. Kantianism:
a. Prof. Tuggy on Kant’s ethics…video.
6. Natural rights ethics:
a. Eric Mack on natural rights ethics…video.
b. Aeon Skoble on negative versus positive rights…video.
c. James Stacey Taylor on Mill’s Harm Principle…video.
7. Virtue ethics:
a. Prof. Tuggy on Aristotle’s ethics…video.
D. Models of corporate social responsibility.
1. Market failure:
a. MJMfoodie short lecture on market failure…video.
b. MJMfoodie short lecture on public goods…video.
c. MJMfoodie short lecture on externalities…audio.
d. Pajholden lecture on six types of market failure…video.
e. Pajholden lecture on negative externalities…video.
f. Pajholden lecture on positive externalities insufficiency…video.
g. Friedman on government as cure for market failure…video.
h. LearnLiberty on Coase theorem…video.
2. The shareholder/free market model (Friedman):
a. Classic exchange between Milton Friedman and a very young Michael
Moore…audio.
b. Alanis Academy on the shareholder vs. the stakeholder model…video.
c. U.C. Berkeley debate on the shareholder vs. the stakeholder
model…video.
3. The philanthropic model:
a. Moaz Brown investigation of corporate philanthropy…part I video.
b. Brown video part II…video.
c. Renacer report on corporate philanthropy awards…video.
d. Dolan on corporate philanthropy as good for his business…video.
4. The moral minimum model (Bowie):
a. Norman Bowie on business ethics…six clips…video.
5. The multiple stakeholder model (Freeman):
a. Prof. Freeman on his stakeholder model…audio.
b. Prof. Freeman on his model versus Friedman’s…audio.
c. Prof. Henisz interview on the stakeholder model…audio.
6. The sustainability model (Desjardins):
a. Alstom (company) on sustainability…video.
b. Acaroglu Ted talk on sustainability…video.
c. Porritt Ted talk on sustainability…video.
d. Prof. Everett critiques the notion of sustainability…video.
e. Khan Academy on the time value of money…video.
f. Lowy Institute talk by Lomborg on global warming…video.
7. The well-structured society model (Jason):
a. ABC News documentary on the fall of Western communism…8 part
video.
b. Khan Academy on social institutions… video.
c. Anightonearth lecture on social institutions…video.
d. Cramer on social institutions…video.
8. Wal-Mart:
a. Frontline/PBS documentary on Wal-Mart…video.
b. Anti-Wal-Mart documentary, “The High Cost of Low Prices”…video.
c. Penn & Teller episode replying to that movie…video part I.
d. Penn & Teller episode replying to that movie…video part II.
e. Penn & Teller episode replying to that movie…video part III.
f. Penn & Teller episode replying to that movie…video part IV.
g. Roberts and Epstein on legislators vs. Wal-Mart…audio.
E. Models of work.
1. Work in general:
a. de Botton on the pleasures and sorrows of work…audio.
2. Conventional model:
a. Prof. Harper on Aristotle and slavery…video.
3. Human fulfillment model:
a. YaleCourses on Marx and alienation…video.
b. Cecil on the life and thought of Marx…video.
4. Progressive liberal model:
5. Classical liberal model:
a. Pew definition of mobility…video.
b. Frenzy763 short talk on education and social mobility…video.
c. Best Film Archives documentary on American immigration…video.
d. PBS documentary on Jewish immigration into America…video.
e. PBS documentary on Irish immigration to America…part I video.
f. PBS Irish immigration documentary…part II video.
g. PBS Irish immigration documentary…part III video.
h. PBS Irish immigration documentary…part IV video.
6. The evolution of work:
a. The industrial revolution:
i.
BBC documentary on the industrial revolution…video.
ii.
UnitedLearning lecture on the industrial revolution…video.
iii. Hughes on industrial revolution….video.
iv.
UCDavis lecture on the industrial revolution…video.
b. Econtalk discussion of the future of work…audio.
F. Employee rights.
1. The right to work without being forced to support a union:
a. Friedman on who protects worker rights…episode 8 of “Freedom to
Choose”…video.
2. The right to a guaranteed job:
a. Free Econ Help on crowding out…video.
b. Prof. Schilgen on crowding out…video.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
c. Wiseconomics on crowding out…video.
The right to strong due process before termination:
a. Legal ad for covenants not to compete…video.
b. Ottinger on how to escape from a non-compete agreement…video.
c. Allen on non-competition clauses…video.
d. Rizsi on non-disclosure agreement…video.
e. Alexander on non-disclosure agreements…video.
The right to a minimum wage:
a. Intelligence squared debate “Abolish the minimum wage”.
b. Milton Friedman debate on the minimum wage...video.
c. Friedman on who protects workers’ rights…episode 8 of “Freedom to
Choose”…video.
The right to a democratic workplace:
a. Wolff and Alperovitz on workplace democracy…video.
Workplace safety:
a. History of OSHA…video.
b. Progressive era workplace safety reforms…video.
Workplace privacy:
a. KPBS report on employee monitoring…video.
b. Global Interview report on employee investigation…video.
c. Stikeman Elliot attorney panel on legal and illegal employee
monitoring…video.
G. Employee responsibilities.
1. The Enron case:
a. Charlie Rose interview with the makers of “Enron: The Smartest Guys in
the Room”…video.
b. Mugshots documentary “Enron — Wall Street Scammers”…video.
2. The standard view:
a. Missouri State lecture on employment law (general)…lecture 2 video.
b. Missouri State lecture on employment law (who is an employee)…lecture
5 video.
c. Missouri State lecture on employment law (at will employment)…lecture
6 video.
3. Loyalty in the workplace:
a. Bain director Reischheld on loyalty…video.
b. Sinek on loyalty in organizations…video.
c. CEO of Fishbowl on loyalty…video.
4. Whistle-blowing:
a. Bloomberg debate on whistle blowing and Dodd/Frank…video.
b. Attorney Newsome on how he handles whistle blower cases…video.
c. Federal whistle blower rights and protections…video.
H. Product safety and regulation.
1. The four Ps of marketing:
a. Firepolemarketing on the four ps of marketing…video.
b. Alanis Academy lecture on the four p’s of marketing…video.
2. Product liability law:
a. Hall on Ohio product liability law…video.
3. Strict product liability:
a. Wiley on strict liability…video.
b. Miraldi and Barrett on strict liability…video.
c. Cheng on strict product liability…video.
4. The costs and benefits of regulation:
a. Unintended consequences:
i.
Reason TV spoof documentary “Great Moments in Unintended
Consequences”…video.
ii.
Prof. Parker on the unintended consequences of auto mileage
regulations…video.
iii. Friedman on regulation and unintended consequences…video.
iv.
Ken Burns on Prohibition and unintended consequences…video.
v.
Prof. Peltzman on the net effects of regulation…audio.
vi.
Stossel on the law of unintended consequences of law…video.
b. Regulatory capture:
i.
Econfree talk on regulatory capture…video.
ii.
Prof. Dudley on regulatory capture…video.
iii. Hunt on regulatory capture…video.
c. Rent-seeking:
i.
Munger on rent-seeking…audio.
ii.
Munger on making money in politics…audio.
d. Regulatory drag:
i.
Epstein on the cost of regulation…audio.
ii.
Winston on market failure and government failure…audio.
I. Product pricing issues.
1. Economics of pricing:
a. Econ lecture on supply v. demand….video.
b. Econ movies on price v. demand….video.
c. Jurgenson on how prices are set…video.
2. Price fixing:
a. B2BWhiteboard cartoon on price-fixing…video.
b. Global News report on price-fixing by Canadian chocolate candy
companies…video.
c. IBT report on price fixing charges against Apple ebooks…video.
d. Balto discusses the Apple ebooks price-fixing case…video.
3. Monopoly:
a. McGlasson lecture on monopoly…video.
b. UCBerkeley lecture on monopoly…video.
4. Convenience pricing:
5.
6.
7.
8.
a. Campus report on convenience pricing…video.
b. New convenience store model—automated convenience stores…video.
Price gouging:
a. Munger on price gouging…audio.
b. Roberts on the price of everything…audio.
Government subsidies:
a. Johnston on the history of subsidies in America…video.
b. Johnston on sports subsidies…video.
c. LearnLiberty on government subsidies of silly walks…video.
d. AMC’s Hell on Wheels illustration of government subsidies…video.
e. Stossel on farm subsidies…video.
Brutal competitive pricing/value loop:
a. News report on small hardware store closing…video.
b. ABC local news report on mom and pop stores struggling…video.
c. Spector on mom and pop stores thriving…video.
d. Webb on disappearing mom and pop stores…video.
e. News story on mom and pop video rental store…video.
Dumping:
a. B2BWhiteboard cartoon explaining dumping…video.
b. BBC report on China’s anti-dumping tariffs on French wine…video.
c. CCTV report on EU’s accusation of Chinese dumping shoes…video.
J. Marketing ethics.
1. Galbraith on marketing:
a. Galbraith vs. Buckley on Galbraith’s view of marketing…part I audio.
b. Galbraith vs. Buckley…part II audio.
c. Galbraith vs. Buckley…part III audio.
d. Galbraith vs. Buckley…part IV audio.
e. Galbraith vs. Buckley…part V audio.
f. Galbraith vs. Buckley…part VI audio.
2. Marketing and manipulation:
a. Marketing consultant on psychological manipulation…video.
b. Cialdini on the psychology of persuasion…video.
K. International business ethics.
1. Moral relativism:
a. Prof. Prinz defends relativism…video.
b. Prof Scruton attacks relativism…video.
2. Globalization and international trade theory:
a. ImportGenius brief history of international trade…video.
b. Matt Ridley TED talk on trade and ideas having sex…video.
c. University of South Africa lecture on international trade theory—
comparative vs. absolute advantage…video.
d. LearnLiberty on comparative advantage…video.
e. JourneymanTV documentary on the growth and value of international
trade…video.
f. British documentary on international trade and prosperity…video.
g. Don Boudreaux on globalization and trade deficits…audio.
h. Don Boudreaux on China, Currency Manipulation, and Trade
Deficits…audio.
3. Protectionism:
a. Mercatus Center talk on quotas vs. tariffs…video.
b. Boudreaux on the concept of buying locally…audio.
c. Rustici on protectionism and the Great Depression…audio.
III. Term paper topics:

Quick tips on writing business ethics papers are available from the Business Ethics
Journal Review.

How to use this resource:
1. The video and audio links are meant to give you a quick overview of the
major disputes/arguments surrounding the various possible paper topics.
This is meant to help you choose a topic to write on, and give you an idea of
the argumentative terrain you will be on.
2. But they are not primary resources — don’t quote them in your papers.
Instead, once you have a general idea of what you will write on, the major
arguments you must explore, and the major areas of facts you must dig out,
THEN do a literature search for relevant articles. It is the written articles
you will be using and citing as a basis for your paper.
3. Remember to avoid direct quotation (reread the tutorial on when to quote, as
opposed to putting the thought in your own words and then citing the
source.) Indeed, I would appreciate it if you would simply paraphrase, and
never quote directly.
4. Your Turnitin duplication score should be ZERO.
5. All papers must have numbered pages, with endnotes according to MLA
format—no embedded notes or footnotes, please.

Some good topics:
1. Recently, the news media have taken up the topic of “inversions,” which are cases in which
an American-based company buys a foreign-based one, in order to move its headquarters abroad
to escape America’s corporate taxes (currently the highest in the industrialized world). Is it
ethical for a business to do this? Why/why not? And if it is unethical, should it be made illegal as
well? Why/why not? What about individuals, who move from California to Texas (say) to avoid
state income tax — are they immoral as well? Why/why not?
a. Varney debate on tax inversions...video.
b. Nightly Business Report on tax inversions...video.
c. CNBC report on tax inversions...video.
d. Stiglitz on tax inversions...video.
2. What are “co-ops”? How prevalent are they in the American economy? Should they be the
model of what corporate structure should be? Why/why not?
a. BBC Horizon documentary on the Mondragon Experiment…video.
b. Freundlich on the Mondragon Cooperatives…video.
c. Dorrien on coops as the model for economic justice…video.
3. Should government subsidize the arts? Why/why not?
a. Reread Bastiat section 4.
b. Moran in favor of arts funding…video.
c. Reason TV interview on funding the arts…video.
4. Should we restrict free trade (i.e., pursue “protectionist” policies)? Does protectionism really
benefit the economy? Why/why not?
a. Reread Bastiat section 7.
b. Read JA Jason review of free trade books.
c. Intelligence squared debate “Buy American, Hire American”…video.
d. Roberts on Smith, Ricardo, and trade…audio.
e. Milton Friedman debate free trade…video.
f. John Stossel debates Lou Doubs on free trade…video.
g. Tom Palmer debates Lou Dobbs on free trade…video.
h. Austin Petersen debates Thom Hartmann on free trade…video.
i. Rustici on Smoot/Hawley and the Great Depression…audio.
j. Ian Fletcher against free trade…video.
k. Walter Block for free trade…video.
l. Robert P. Murphy fro free trade…video.
m. LearnLiberty on free trade…video.
5. Some people argue that instead of “free trade,” the world needs “fair trade”. What does “fair
trade” mean in this context? Is it better than free trade, as traditionally understood? Why/why
not?
a. LearnLiberty fair trade video.
b. Narlikar on fair trade and free trade…audio.
c. Munger on fair trade and free trade…audio.
6. What are “middlemen”? Are they important contributors to society or merely economic
parasites?
a. Reread Bastiat section 6.
b. Munger on middlemen…audio.
c. Prof. Pirie on the value of middlemen…video.
d. NerdAlert report on eliminating the third party in buying Tesla cars…video.
7. Does government spending on infrastructure projects increase employment on balance
(overall, “on net”)? Why/why not?
a. Reread Bastiat section 5.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Gifford on the need for more infrastructure spending…video.
De Ruigy critical of infrastructure crisis…video.
CNN report on pork barrel spending…video.
AFP report critical of earmarks…the Cowgirl Hall of Fame…video.
8. Most business ethics texts leave out of their discussions non-profits, such as charitable
institutions. It is probably because non-profits are usually set up to provide a service to people,
not make wealth for the owners. But non-profits still face ethical issues. What are some? Are
they immune from the principal/agent problem? Why/why not?
a. Dan Pallotta TED talk…video.
b. Munger on love, money, profits and non-profits…audio.
c. Pallotta on charity and the culture of the non-profit sector…audio.
9. Some say that technology destroys jobs. That is, while most Americans love technology,
some seem to believe that it does destroy jobs on balance. (Back in the middle of the industrial
revolution, economists called this the “Machine Problem”). Do you agree? Why/why not?
a. Reread Bastiat section 8.
b. For a pro-view (i.e., that technology DOES cost jobs on balance), listen to Tyler
Cowen on inequality, the future, and average is over…audio.
c. For an anti-view (holding that technology does NOT cost jobs on balance), listen
to Joel Mokyr on growth, innovation, and stagnation…audio.
d. Autor on the limits of technology imitating human skills…Econtalk audio.
e. Brynjolfsson on the second machine age…audio.
f. Kelley on technology…audio.
10. Some have argued that K-12 schools are often failing, and that the answer is “vouchers,” that
is, in essence allowing the money collected to pay for public schools to be given to the parents
directly in the form of a coupon they can use to pay for tuition at the school of their choice
(either public or private). This, it is said, would force non-performing public schools to start
rendering a better service, or lose their clients and be shut down. Has the voucher system been
tried elsewhere? If so, how has it worked out? Is this a good idea for the U.S.? Why/why not?
a. Hanushek on educational quality and economic growth…audio.
b. Hanushek on making schools better…audio.
c. Hanushek on education and prosperity…audio.
d. Stossel on “Stupid in America”…video.
e. Milton Friedman “Freedom to Choose” episode #6 on vouchers;
f. Milton Friedman lectures on his idea of vouchers…video.
g. John Stossel in favor of vouchers…video.
h. Diane Ravitch in opposition to vouchers…video.
i. Columbia students debate vouchers…video.
j. Economics Today debate on vouchers…video.
k. Report on the Swedish national school voucher program…video.
11. Some have argued that the USPS should be privatized. What does that mean? Why do some
people suggest doing that? What reasons to some others have for opposing privatizing it?
a. Jarkesy debate on privatizing the USPS…video.
a. CNN debate on privatization of USPS…video.
b. Stossel on privatizing the USPS…video.
12. Every year, thousands of Americans die waiting for organ transplants, especially kidneys. A
few people donate their organs, usually to people they have a connection to, but far fewer than
the existing demand. Yet under current law, people cannot sell their organs the way they can sell
their eggs, sperm or blood. Some have argued that we should allow a free market for human
organ sales. Do any other countries allow this? Do you think that we should? Why/why not? If
so, what regulations (if any) would you propose?
a. Intelligence squared debates “We should legalize the market for human
organs”…video.
b. Reason TV pro piece on organ sales…video.
c. Satz on the moral limits of markets…audio.
d. National Geographic piece on the black market in kidneys…video.
e. ITVS critical report on Iran’s organ sales market…video.
f. Official Iranian report on kidney sales….video.
13. What is the “sharing economy”? What are some of the major companies in this space? Some
argue that these companies should be immediately regulated because of the harm they can cause.
Others say that regulation will destroy these new businesses, pointing to the phenomenon of rentseeking to explain their fears. Explore this issue.
a. The founder of Airbnb on his business...Econtalk audio…
b. Munger on the sharing economy…Econtalk audio.
c. Report on Uber.com;
d. Report on Lyft.com;
e. Report on DogVacay.com;
f. Report on Airbnb.
14. Which common-law countries have a “loser-pay” (also called “fee shifting” or “the British
rule”) system? Which do not? How does the system work in practice in (say) Britain? In
particular, what role do insurance companies play in Britain’s common law system? In the US, a
few states have this system — which ones, and how does it work in those states? Should the US
adopt such a system in all states? Why/why not?
a. American Constitutional Society panel (very critical) on loser pay
system…video.
b. Gov. Perry signs loser pay law in Texas…video.
c. Unintended consequence of Texas law…video.
15. What is the practice of “ticket scalping”? Where (if anywhere) is it legal? Why/why not?
a. Munger on ticket scalping…audio.
16. Where is prostitution a legal business? How has that worked out? Should it be legal
generally in the US? Why/why not?
a. Intelligence squared debate “It’s wrong to pay for sex”…video.
b. World Schools debate on prostitution…video.
17. What is embryonic stem cell research? Is it ethical for privately-funded companies to do it?
How about government-funded companies? Why/why not? Specifically, what are the ethical
issues involved in forcing taxpayers who may have profound religious or moral issues with some
practice to fund it?
a. EuroStemCell conversation on the ethics of embryonic stem cell research…video.
18. Is the international arms trade unethical? Should it be banned by international organizations?
Why/why not?
a. Arms trade and ethical use debate…video.
19. Should the US legalize drugs (either all, or just marijuana)? How about decriminalizing
them? (What is the difference?) Why/why not? What has been the experience of other countries
in this regard?
a. Intelligence squared debate on drug legalization…video.
b. James Baker Institute debate on drug legalization…video.
c. Penn & Teller episode on the war on drugs…video.
20. Being a barber, being a hair stylist, being a mortician and many other professions that in no
way involve major risks to the life, health, or well-being of the consumer require a license to
practice in many states. Should these license requirements be eliminated? (If so, should all of
these requirements be eliminated? Or if only some, which ones?) That is, should we allow
consumers who don’t care whether their (say) hair stylist is unlicensed to go to one who isn’t?
Why/why not?
a. Institute for Justice report on licensing requirements….article.
b. Institute for Justice video explaining its report…video.
21. A recent Supreme Court ruling held that corporations can openly fund candidates and
causes. Some people were outraged. Was that ruling morally right — that is, should companies
be able to fund candidates and causes? How about unions? Environmentalist groups? Why/why
not?
a. Intelligence squared debate on free speech and money…video.
22. Was socializing GM (and Chrysler) on balance a good thing? That is, what costs and
benefits did it have (both seen, and more importantly, UNSEEN)?
a. Young Turks video on the corruption of the deal…video.
b. NYT video on the bankruptcy…video.
23. Some people criticize the advertising done by pharmaceutical firms, especially directed at
consumers directly (as opposed to the doctors). Is such advertising ethical? Why/why not?
a. See reading JA 12.3.
b. See the ProCon discussion, including videos.
24. Some critics argue that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, and that we need to convert it into
a system like Chile’s (also now found in a number of other countries), in which individuals put
their money into just their OWN separate retirement accounts of stocks and bonds, which they
then own as their own personal property. Do you agree? Why/why not?
a. Friedman on social security…video.
b. Friedman sketches some of his ideas on retirement…video.
c. Frontline episode on the retirement “gamble” and the problem of 401k
plans…video.
d. FBN interview with Pinera on privatizing the social security system…video.
e. Pinera answers questions on the Chilean model of privatized social
security…video.
f. Cafferty critical of privatizing social security…video.
g. Worldfocus report critical of the Chilean system…video.
25. One of the many ways the federal government subsidizes the home real estate market is to
allow home mortgage interest to be deducted from the homeowner’s income taxes. Should the
government be trying so hard to get people to buy homes? Why/why not? How does residential
real estate compare to other asset classes in terms of yield? And is this fair to other industries
besides home construction, and to people who do not own homes but rent them? Why/why not?
a. Leopold on what the deduction is…video.
b. Face the Facts debate on keeping the home mortgage…video.
c. Adams in defense of the deduction…video.
d. Gayar critical of it…video.
26. The eminent economist John Maynard Keynes put forward what he called the “paradox of
thrift,” which is (crudely put) that if everybody saved their money, they wouldn’t be purchasing
anything, which would cause companies to cut back production of consumer goods, which in
turn would cost people jobs. Is this a convincing to you? Why/why not?
a. PBS short piece on the paradox of thrift…video.
b. 60 Second Adventures in Economics on the paradox of thrift…video.
27. Should a company give racial, ethnic or gender preferences in hiring, retention or promotion
decisions? Why/why not?
a. Read Desjardins Chapter 11 for an essentially pro view.
b. Firing Line interview with Thomas Sowell critical of racial preferences…video.
c. Charlie Rose interview with Sowell critical of racial preferences…video.
d. Intelligence squared debate: “affirmative action on campus does more harm than
good”...video.
e. Intelligence squared debate: “it’s time to end affirmative action”...video.
28. Some argue passionately that immigrants take jobs away from native-born workers. Others
just as passionately deny it. Does legal immigration result in job loss on balance? Why/why not?
(Do NOT mix in the irrelevant issue of illegal immigration).
a. LearnLiberty debate on immigration…video.
b. Intelligence squared debate: “Let anyone take a job anywhere (free immigration
across borders)”...video.
c. Intelligence squared debate: “Don’t give us your tired, poor, huddled
masses”...video.
d. Penn & Teller episode on immigration…part I video.
e. Penn & Teller episode on immigration…part II video.
f. Penn & Teller episode on immigration…part III video.
29. Recently, grocery markets such as “Whole Foods” have made a lot of money selling what
they call “organic food.” This is an odd phrase, since all food must be “organic” — after all, we
don’t eat rocks and sand. What does that phrase mean? And is it really true that organic food
really safer and/or more nutritious than ordinary food? Why/why not?
a. Intelligence squared debate: “Organic food is a marketing hype”...video.
b. Penn & Teller episode on organic food…video.
30. Only recently, there was a real-estate bubble followed by a real estate collapse, the
consequences of which are still being felt. Some blame the greed of mortgage brokers and
bankers, who give people easy loans for homes they couldn’t afford. Others blame government
for providing “easy money” and for creating institutions that bought those loan contracts of
dubious worth. Which side do you think is right on balance, or do you think that they both are on
to something? Explain and defend your point of view.
a. Frontline/PBS series on the mortgage meltdown of 2007…video.
b. CBS report on the mortgage meltdown…video.
c. Intelligence squared debate on blame the financial crisis on Washington…video.
d. Global Financial Meltdown documentary (long movie)…video.
e. Fox debate on the role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae on creating the mortgage
meltdown…video.
f. Thomas Sowell on the government’s role in the mortgage meltdown…video.
g. Cavuto on government role in mortgage meltdown…video.
h. Realtor Greg Rand on government role in mortgage meltdown…video.
31. Every year, hundreds of thousands of women abort their fetuses. But the waiting lists for the
adoption of healthy infants are long, with many American couples actually going abroad to adopt
children. Under current law, couples can privately arrange to pay the medical expenses of a
woman who is willing to bring the baby to term for the couple to then adopt. An entrepreneur has
a new idea: to start a website ‘PreggieForProfit.com,” which will allow any pregnant woman to
invite couples to bid for carrying the baby to term, and not just be compensated for medical
expenses, but getting whatever money over and above that she can negotiate. Sales would be
recorded transparently, so just as a person wanting to buy or sell a used car can log on to Kelly
Blue Book and see what the going rate for that type of car is, pregnant women and prospective
adopting parents can all see what the going rate for a baby is in their area. Should this be
allowed? Why/why not?
a. Lisa Ling report on couples adopting Chinese babies…video.
b. EU report on foreign adoptions…video.
32. What is “genetic screening”? Why might an employer want to genetically screen potential
employees? Would that be ethical, and is it legal? Why/why not?
a. Baptist Health report on the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act…video.
b. Euro report on genetic testing…video.
c. CCTV report on genetic testing…video.
33. College sports stars are prohibited from being paid, although their teams often bring in
massive amounts of money form school, and the college players risk injury that can end their
careers. Should we allow them to be paid in full for what their services are worth? Why/why not?
a. NBC New debate on paying college athletes…video.
34. Some critics have argued that government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) should not be
allowed, because they create a moral hazard for investors (who are tempted to think there is no
investment risk, given the government involvement) and for government (which is tempted to
think that since the money invested is invested “voluntarily” — i.e., not gotten by taxation — it
can spend that money to buy votes — public choice theory). What do they mean? Are they right?
Why/why not?
a. Horne on GSE reform…video.
b. Mercatus Center debate on GSE reform…video.
c. Zillow debate on GSE reform…audio.
35. Some have argued that the TSA (the government agency that handles airport security)
should be privatized—including the Congressman who first wrote the legislation creating it.
Should it be? Why/why not? How do other countries, especially those facing terrorism threats,
handle it?
a. Barnes/Cato on TSA mission creep…video.
36. There is controversy about paycheck protection laws. What are they? How do they relate to
the U.S. Supreme Court Beck ruling? What arguments are there for and against paycheck
protection laws?
a. Business Matters debate on paycheck protection act…video.
b. Missouri House hearings on paycheck protection…video.
37. Recently, some protestors have argued that college student loans should be “forgiven.” What
is the recent history of the college student loan program (nationalized in 2009)? What are some
arguments for and against student loan “forgiveness”? What about the idea of “forgiving” them
for people who go into government or non-profit work? Is that fair, or is it unfair to those who
work in standard for-profit businesses? How does public choice theory enter in? Your view?
a. PBS report on student loan debt…video.
b. Applebaum favoring student loan debt forgiveness…video.
c. Dave Ramsey critical of student loans…video.
d. LearnLiberty criticism of student loan forgiveness…audio.
38. Some companies will buy the life insurance policies of elderly folk (or terminally ill folk),
making the premium payments for them until they die, at which time the companies collect the
pay-out. Some argue that this is gambling on people’s lives, while others argue that this allows
the elderly/terminally ill to utilize some of what they have paid in for their own enjoyment.
What arguments can you give that this practice is ethical? Unethical? Your view?
a. Scott Page interview about life insurance settlement…video.
b. Viatical settlements…video.
c. Mickleson on life insurance settlement frauds…video.
d. Kanjorski on life insurance settlement investigations…video.
39. Some have argued that in the modern knowledge based economy, there is no reason to set
the minimum age for working as high as it is now. Do you agree? Why/why not?
a. Report on Bolivia setting a working age of 10…video.
b. Michigan retailers report on employing minors in Michigan…video.
40. What are the ethical issues in international trade and the environment? Does free trade hurt
the environment? Why/why not?
a. Mercatus Center report on international trade and the environment…video.
b. Prof. Mitchell examines free trade and the environment…video.
c. Prof. Bhagwati argues that trade helps the environment…video.
41. Explore the ethical issues surrounding advertising directly aimed at children. Are children
rational enough to deal with such ads? And if children are rational enough, at what age are they
so? Does making children aware of (say) sweet foods such as breakfast cereal really help them?
Why/why not?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
BBC debate on advertising to kids…video.
Prof. McAllister on advertising to kids…video.
CBS news report on advertising to kids…video.
Excerpt from documentary on corporations…video.
Kravis attack on advertising to kids…video.
42. Do consumers have an obligation to consume in a way that protects the environment (socalled “Green consumerism”)? If so, what exactly does this mean? Why/why not?
a. Journeyman pictures documentary “Consumed”…video.
b. Explainity plumping of sustainability…video.
c. Prof. Newman on sustainability…video.
d. Ted talk on sustainability…video.
43. What are the ethical issues surrounding drug testing in the workplace? Explore them in some
detail.
a. The Law Works episode on drug testing in the workplace…video.
44. What are the ethical issues surrounding the bailouts of big businesses? (You can focus on a
specific industry, or talk about bailouts in general).
a. Cavuto discussion on bailouts…video.
b. Buffett on bailouts…video.
45. Under which conditions (if any) is it ethical for businesses to sell data about their customers
to other companies? Review the key arguments in some detail.
a. CBS/60 Minutes report on data selling companies…video.
b. PBS short report on data brokers…video.
c. Angwin on data gathering…video.
46. Under which conditions (if any) is dating in the workplace ethical? Unethical? Explain.
a.
b.
c.
d.
JobCast on rules for dating in the workplace…video.
The Ethics Guy on workplace romance…audio.
Business Ethics Minute on workplace relationships…video.
Dubuque on asking a co-worker out…video.
47. Over the years, many commentators have bemoaned the decline of family farming in
America. Is that really a problem? That is, are family-owned farms really disappearing? If so,
why? And should we care more about family farms than, say, family-owned restaurants,
security-guard companies, or mortuaries? Why/why not? Is it ethical to give farms subsidies
(government money, taken from other taxpayers) to help them survive? Who gets helped? Who
gets hurt (don’t overlook people in other countries)? Should they be given at all?
a. Iowa Public Television 23 part series on the crisis of the family farm…video.
b. Stossel critical of farm subsidies…video.
48. Some economists have argued that corporate taxes aren’t really paid by the corporations, but
instead are paid by the employees, consumers, and investors thereof. These economists argue
that the corporate income tax should be dramatically reduced or even eliminated altogether. Do
you agree? Why/why not?
a. Tax Foundation on America’s corporate tax rate…video.
b. Prof. Altman against the corporate income tax…video.
c. Buffett defends the American corporate tax rate…video.
49. Some have argued that genetically modified foods (called genetically modified organisms,
or “GMOs”) present a threat and should not be allowed. Others view GM food/GMOs as a
godsend. Do you agree with either view? Which, and why?
a. Anti-GMO film “Seeds of Death”…video.
b. Prof. Bohanec supports GMO…video.
c. GMO debate on Hawaiian TV…video.
d. PBS debate on GMOs…video.
50. What is “subliminal advertising”? How prevalent is it? Is it ethical? Why/why not? Should it
be outlawed? Why/why not?
a. Greenwald on subliminal advertising…video.
51. Some view the payday (paycheck) loan (short-term finance) business as unethical, while
others view it as quite useful as well as ethical. What are the arguments here? Discuss in some
detail.
a. CBS News report on payday loans…video.
b. Another CBS report critical of payday loans….video.
c. Reason TV report supporting payday loans…video.
52. Should e-commerce (such as purchases done on Amazon) be subject to sales taxes?
Why/why not? What did the Supreme Court rule about the mail-order business? What is the
analogy with e-commerce?
a. RT News report critical of taxing Amazon…video.
b. Skinner in favor of taxing Amazon…video.
c. Fox Business News on taxing ecommerce…video.
d. Bezos defends Amazon…video.
e. California Senate debate on internet commerce tax…video.
53. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was controversial at the time it
passed, and some to this day view it as having hurt the American worker. What are the
arguments here?
a. PBS report on the 20th anniversary of NAFTA…video.
b. Need To Know (PBS) on NAFTA…video.
c. LeDuff allegations that NAFTA hurt America…video.
d. Real News allegations that NAFTA hurt Mexico…video.
54. Should the administration of the National Park System (the running of the concessions
venues, campgrounds, guided tours and so on) be privatized? Why/why not?
a. LearnLiberty on privatizing the running of the parks…video;
55. Should public employees be allowed to unionize? What is the relevant history here? What
are the arguments pro and con?
a. Fox history of public sector unions…audio.
b. Prof. Ross defends unions…video.
c. Stossel against public sector unions…audio.
d. Hillsdale panel on public sector unions…video.
56. Should the government lower the work week, say, down to 35 hours? What are the
arguments pro and con?
a. France 24 report on the 10th anniversary of France’s 35 hour work week…video.
b. PressTV report on the 35 hour work week in France…video.
c. Super News report on criticism of France’s 35 hour work week…video.
57. Mail-order bride businesses have a long history in America. Today they are internet based,
or what has been called the “email-order bride” business. What are the ethical issues surrounding
people (almost exclusively men) going abroad on tours to find brides?
a. Lisa Ling report on international romance sites…video.
b. National Geographic report on email brides (Russian)…video.
c. Crimson expose of email order brides…video.
58. Discuss the ethics of the (private) gaming industry. Is gambling just inherently immoral?
Certainly, it is associated with organized crime, and is considered immoral by many people. Can
gambling casinos be run ethically? Why/why not?
a. Steve Winn on ethical casino building…video #1.
b. Steve Winn on ethical casino building…video #2.
59. Discuss the ethical issues surrounding the concept of a “natural” (or “creative”) monopoly.
Peter Thiel (founder of a number of successful internet companies, including PayPal) has argued
that the goal of business owners should be to achieve monopolies, but benign ones. Is he right?
In what sense? Why/why not?
a. Thiel interview on Yahoo news…video.
b. Thiel interview on WSJ…video.
60. There is considerable controversy about “intellectual property rights.” What are some of the
arguments here? Explore in some detail.
a. LearnLiberty on three ways to think about intellectual property…video.
b. LearnLiberty on whether artists can make money without copyrights…video.
61. What are some of the ethical issues concerning the termination of workers for poor
performance?
a. BLR 10 sins of termination…video.
b. Attorney Morton on what is wrongful termination…video.
c. Attorney Johnson ad for wrongful termination clients…audio.
d. Attorney Maltby on wrongful termination…audio.
e. PBS panel of attorneys on wrongful termination…audio.
62. Explore the ethics of an internet-based company cooperating with a foreign government by
releasing data about its consumers in that country to that country’s government. Does it make a
difference whether that foreign government is a democracy or not? Why/why not? Should we
outlaw American-based internet companies from cooperating with foreign governments, or at
least repressive ones? Why/why not?
a. Morozov on the use of technological companies by dictatorships…video.
63. Amazingly, while states have historically outlawed and devoted considerable policing to
stopping gambling, most states now have official state lotteries for their citizens, which they
advertise extensively. Explore the ethical issues surrounding state-run gambling enterprises.
a. PBS Frontline report on state lotteries…part I video.
b. Frontline report part II…video.
c. Frontline report part III…video.
d. Frontline report part IV…video.
e. Frontline report part V…video.
f. Frontline report part VI…video.
64. What are “sweatshops”? Where are they typically located? Are most manufacturing plants
located in developing countries sweatshops, or is this loaded pejorative term overused? Discuss
some of the ethical issues surrounding manufacturing plants abroad.
a. PBS expose on Forever 21 sweatshops…video.
b. International labor union report on abuses in sweatshops…video.
c. SweatTeam expose of Nike factories…video.
d. Powell LearnLiberty defense of sweatshops…video.
e. Zwolinski in defense of sweatshops…video.
f. Powell Independent Institute extended lecture on the ethics of sweatshops…video.
65. Explain some of the ethical issues surrounding the right to free speech in the workplace.
Should an employee be able to say whatever he/she wants on the job, even if the workplace is
private property? Why/why not? How about at home — should an employee be able to criticize
his/her employer at home (say, on the internet)? Why/why not?
a. Schoenfeld on workplace free speech…video.
b. Barry on workplace free speech…video.
c. Xu on workplace free speech…video.
d. Weiss on workplace free speech…video.
66. Should restaurants and bars be forced to ban smoking completely, because “second hand
smoke” can cause cancer? Why/why not? Do employees generally have a right to a smoke free
environment?
a. Penn & Teller episode skeptical of the danger of second hand smoke…video.
67. What is “patent trolling”? Who wants to regulate or outlaw it? Who opposes that regulation?
Explore the ethical issues surrounding patent trolling.
a. Reason TV critical report on patent trolling…video.
b. Adam Carolla interview on his experience with patent trolls…video.
68. What is “offshoring”? What is the relation between outsourcing and offshoring? What are
the ethical arguments for and against it? Is there such a thing as “inshoring”? What are examples
of it? What is your view?
a. Leamer on outsourcing and globalization…audio.
b. Discovery Channel documentary on outsourcing’s impact on India…video.
c. Cato Institute in defense of outsourcing…video.
d. PressTV report critical of offshoring…video.
69. Some argue that the country would be better off if pharmaceutical companies were freed up
from much of the FDA’s oversight. Some vehemently disagree. What are the major arguments
pro and con? Should the FDA’s power be increased, or decreased, or stay the same? Why/why
not?
a. Intelligence squared debate: the FDA’s caution is a detriment to our
health…video.
70. Some have argued that you should never buy pets from pet stores, because those pets come
from puppy mills. What are “puppy mills”? Do pet stores always buy from puppy mills, or is this
an over-used pejorative propaganda term? Explore the ethical issues surrounding sales of pets in
stores.
a. Oprah expose of puppy mills…video.
b. Carone protest against pet shop sales of puppies…video.
c. Dr. Smith argument against pet stores…video.
71. From at least Rousseau on, one critique of private industry and capitalism has been the “antimaterialist” one. This is the view that the free market produces massive material prosperity —
fancy clothes, rich foods, elaborate cars, huge homes, and endless streams of technologically
sophisticated gadgets — yet it makes people unhappy, shallow, spiritually sick, and basically
unhappy. Cover some of the issues here. What is your take?
a. Skidelsky on whether our emphasis on growth and GDP is bad and we should
focus on more leisure…audio.
b. Stevenson and Wolfers on happiness and wealth level…audio.
72. Some people—including some prominent actresses—have said that buy real (not faux) fur
coats is immoral, since the fur pelts are harvested from animals that have been killed, often by
trapping them. Others argue that there is nothing wrong with the fur industry that doesn’t equally
apply to the leather good industry, the meat industry, the fishing industry, or the soap industry.
They argue that if we properly regulate the industry, it is morally fine. What are the arguments
here, pro and con? Is there a regulated form of the fur industry you could support?
a. Historian Dolin of the history of the fur trade…video.
b. Merrilee Parker documentary on fur trade…video.
73. Read about the Americans with Disabilities Act. This bill made people with disabilities a
protected class as regards employment and pay in private industry. Some have argued that the
bill was not a good idea, others that it was vitally needed. How has the bill worked out? Should it
be retained as is, modified, or discarded?
a. Vitek on the ADA…video.
b. DBTAC pro report on ADA…video.
c. Mazzella critical of ADA…video.
74. After a string of corporate scandals (Tyco, Enron, WorldComm and others) made the news
in the 1990s, in 2002 Congress passed a law called “Sarbanes Oxley” (also called “Sarbox” or
“SOX” for short). What was this law intended to do? What were its provisions?
Examine this law from the consequentialist and consistency angles.
Consequentially: some economists (such as Paul Volcker) have argued that on balance it
has had on balance great effects. Others (like economics writer Barbara Hunter) have said that is
has been generally bad (such as that: it has deterred companies from going public; that it is
draconian; that it is overly costly; that it tilts the playing field in favor of big business; and so
on). Who is right here?
Consistency: government created this law to crack down on accounting fraud by
business, but it never extended the law to cover itself. That is, while some government officials
(presidents, Senators, Congress people) seem to commit fraud (fail to disclose how much a
program will really cost, how it will be funded, etc.) just as some business people do, the
government officials face no penalty for any fraud. Is this right? Why/why not? You might want
to look at the promises made regarding Social Security or the Affordable Care Act (on the latter,
google search “Jonathan Gruber”).
a. Saylor Academy intro to SOX…video.
b. Fronelli in defense of SOX ten years later…video.
c. Center for Audit Quality panel on SOX after 10 years…video.
d. Oxley defends his law 10 years later…video.
e. CBS news clip on Jonathan Gruber and the Affordable Care Act…video.
f. Tapper review of Jonathan Gruber on the Affordable Care Act…video.
75. Some have argued that fracking is environmentally bad, and should be banned. Others argue
that fracking, properly done, is environmentally friendly. Review the controversy.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Marathon Oil explanation of fracking…video.
FBN report on the economic promise of fracking…video.
CBS 60 Minutes report on fracking…video.
Link TV anti-fracking report…video.
ReasonTV pro-fracking report…video.
76. Explore the ethics of religious groups (churches, in the generic sense of the word) selling or
endorsing products to their members when those organization receive part of the proceeds.
77. Discuss the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme case. What is a Ponzi scheme? How big was the
Madoff scheme? Why did the SEC fail to stop him? What could have been done to stop him?
a. MoneyandSociety explanation of Ponzi schemes…video.
b. Khan Academy on Ponzi schemes…video.
c. This World report on the Madoff hustle…part I video.
d. This World report…part II video.
e. This World report…part III video.
f. This World report…part IV video.
g. CBS/60 Minutes interview of Markopolos the man who tried to report the Madoff
scheme to the SEC…video.
78. With the doctrine of privity eliminated in 1916, consumers harmed by products can sue
anybody in the chain of manufacture and distribution. This has led to some unintended
consequences, such as the pharmacist couple who were sued hundreds of times for simple filling
prescriptions for Phen-fen, a drug that had been approved by the FDA and prescribed by statelicensed physicians. Explore the ethical issues here. Should some kind of restrictions be put on
such lawsuits?
79. Discuss the ethical issues surrounding insider trading. Is insider trading legal anywhere on
Earth? Is it inherently unfair? If so, how? Should it be legalized? Why/why not?
a. MoneyWeek explanation of insider trading…video.
b. Hirsch explanation of insider trading…video.
c. Kudlow debate on whether insider trading should be legalized…video.
d. Stewart interview on the huge insider trading scandal in the late 1980s…video.
e. Stossel defending insider trading…video.
80. Desjardins (10.5) argues that a realistic “business case” can be made for managers pursuing
“environmentally sustainable” corporate practices. What is this case? What would a skeptic
(such as Milton Friedman) say in reply?
a. RealEyesVideo short video defining sustainability…video.
b. IKEA exec Howard pitches sustainability…video.
c. Interface CEO Anderson pitches sustainability…video.
d. CNN debate on global warming…video.
e. The Hour interview with Lomborg…video.
f. Lomborg RSA talk on tackling global warming and doing good…video.
81. What does the phrase “crony capitalism” refer to? Is it inherently corrupt and unfair, and if
so, why? Or is it just a pejorative phrase without meaning? Some have pointed to the recent
funding of numerous “green energy” companies such as Solyndra (a solar energy company
started up with taxpayer-backed loan — granted by an administration headed by a president to
whose campaign Solyndra’s CEO had donated lavishly — which subsequently went bankrupt) as
examples. What can be done to stop crony capitalism?
a. Stossel critique of crony capitalism…video.
b. EconFree on cronyism…video.
c. EconFree on cronyism in tax code…video.
d. MisterSmithMedia documentary on cronyism and Detroit…video.
82. More and more, companies are using personality tests in hiring, placement and promotion
decisions. These tests aim at describing employees’ personality traits such as extroversion,
creativity, maturity, work ethic/diligence, and so on. One of the most widely used is the MyerBriggs Type Indicator test, use by nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 firms.
Explore the ethical issues surrounding the use of such tests. How reliable are they? Could
their use result in people being unfairly denied job opportunities? Do they violate privacy?
Why/why not?
a. myHRpro advocacy report on personality testing…video.
b. Hire Well Now advocacy report on personality testing…video.
c. EmpowermentTO critique on personality tests…part I video.
d. EmpowermentTO part II video.
83. In 1970, Congress established OSHA. OSHA has faced criticism all along from both
business and labor groups. Businesses have complained that it issues a lot of needless and often
picky rules, while labor groups argue that it has been an impotent agency, often failing to stop
deaths that are clearly due to reckless and negligent business conduct. Critically explore OSHA’s
record.
a. History of OSHA…video.
b. Progressive era workplace safety reforms…video.
c. National Safety Compliance video on complying with OSHA…video.
d. Public Citizen complains OSHA is too weak with medical industry…video.
e. Roby accuses OSHA of deliberate bias in conducting inspections…audio.
84. Businesses face enormous losses every year from employee theft, use of alcohol and drugs,
and violence on the job. Some estimates put business losses due to theft at over $40 billion a
year, and reckon that one in five business failures are due to employee crime. Employee drug use
and on-the-job violence cost companies untold billions more.
In response, some companies such as London House and Stanton Corporation design
tests aimed at measuring the honesty of job applicants. Examine the morality of honesty testing.
a. Duchatschek on the usefulness of integrity testing…video.
b. Employee Polygraph Protection Act explained…video.
c. Peters on using lie detectors on employees…video.
85. Explore the ethics of discrimination among employees on the basis of how well they look. In
which situations (if any) is discrimination on the basis of looks ethical in business? In which
cases (if any) is it immoral? Since unattractive people suffer through their whole lives, should
there be affirmative action for them in compensation? Why/why not?
a. The Young Turks discussion of discriminating on looks…video.
b. Stossel piece on discrimination on basis of looks…video.
c. Bennett survey results on beauty bias…video.
86. The American system of higher education faces any number of problems (rising costs,
maintedny students dropping out, junk majors, administrative bloat, to name just a few). Some
hold that MOOCs might be a solution. Explore the problems of colleges, the rise of MOOCs, and
whether MOOCs are the answer (or part of the answer) to those problems.
a. Cochrane on education and MOOCs…audio.
b. Caplan on signaling and higher education…audio.
c. Kling discussing education and the internet…audio.
87. In America, it is customary to tip food servers, delivery people, bell-hops and so on for their
help. In other countries, it is said, people generally frown upon this practice. Explore the ethics
of tipping. Is it in a way demeaning for a person to take tips? Or is it a power-gesture for
someone to offer them? Why/why not?
a. The Ethics Guy on tipping…video.
b. Waiter on why waiters hate Europeans…video.
c. TED talk on rethinking tipping…video.
88. The food supplement and herbal remedy industry is largely exempt from FDA regulation.
How big is this industry? What are some of the products it sells? Why is it basically exempt from
FDA scrutiny? Should it be exempt? Why/why not?
a. Dr. Bergmann advocating nutritional supplements…video.
b. Dr. Hughes on nutritional supplements…video.
c. BBC report on vitamin supplements…video.
89. Sometimes, people who could be treated by a drug while waiting for the drug to be approved
for sale by the FDA. Explore the ethical controversy here. How often does this happen? Why
does it happen? What can be done about it?
a. ABC News report on Denver mother dying while waiting for FDA to approve a
drug…video.
b. ABC News follow up report…video.
c. FDA approval documentary…video.
d. Gary Null attack on FDA…video.
90. Explore the ethics of discrimination in hiring on the basis of criminal records (past criminal
convictions).
a. Maltby on how a criminal record affects employment…video.
b. EEOC on guidelines on how to use arrest records in hiring…video.
c. Ryerson on use of criminal background checks in hiring…video.
91. Some people have argued that the VA (Veteran’s Administration) should be privatized.
What does that mean? What reasons do people have for favoring that? What reasons to people
have to oppose it?
a. NextNewsNetwork critical of privatizing the Veteran’s Administration…video.
92. Examine in detail the long controversy about silicone breast implants, which were
introduced by Dow Corning in the 1960s, and led to the company’s bankruptcy in a hail of
lawsuits. What lessons does it offer regarding the ethics of regulation and tort law?
a. Westlake surgery discussion of silicone vs. saline implants…video.
b. WCPO archive of breast implant settlement…video,
93. Over the last few years, our government has been massively subsiding electric vehicles
(EVs). Explore the ethical issues here. Are EVs good for the environment? If so, how much? If
they are so good, why do they need government subsidy?
a. Fox debate on EVs…video.
b. GetConnected quick debate over EVs…video.
c. Pro-EV documentary…video.
d. Lomborg on EVs as not so green…video.
e. Sharkee lecture on problems with EVs…video.
94. Some American drug companies first do clinical trials of their experimental drugs not in
America, with its strict FDA requirements, but in Russia and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, where
the restrictions on medical tests are lower. In other words, many pharmaceutical companies are
outsourcing their testing. These American drug companies often employ independent contracting
companies, called “clinical research organizations” (CROs) such as Russian Clinical Trials.
Typically, after the trial ends, the drug companies do no follow-up studies of the
participants in the experiment. And often, if a useful drug is produced, the drug company won’t
market it in the countries where the initial tests were done, because the price is set so high that it
is beyond what Eastern Europeans can afford. And remember that setting up a marketing and
distribution system in another country is hugely expensive.
Explore the ethics of this issue. Does it matter if the countries with lower medical
regulations on testing have democracies? Why/why not?
a. Industry panel discussion on CROs…video.
b. Association of CROs panel on CRO growth…video.
c. Faultlines critical report on CROs…video.
d. JourneymanPictures critical report on using the poor as guinea pigs…video.
95. One of the most controversial pesticides ever made is DDT. Some investigations—starting
with the famous (or infamous) writer Rachel Carlson—have claimed that DDT causes cancer in
humans and destroys wildlife. Others have urged that since its ban, hundreds of thousands of
people — many children — have died because of malaria, a disease spread by mosquitoes which
were in the past eradicated by DDT.
Explore the ethics of the use of DDT.
a. Rachel Carlson critical of DDT…video.
b. Gottschau excerpt critical of DDT…video.
c. MSU story of Wallace, the biologist who investigated link between DDT and bird
deaths…video.
d. ReasonTV report supportive of DDT…video.
e. Stossel report supportive of DDT…video.
f. VOA on Silent Spring at 50…video.
96. Nuclear power has been controversial since its inception. Some self-styled environmentalists
have deeply opposed it, claiming that it kills people (as in the incident at Chernobyl) — indeed,
that it poses the risk of killing massive numbers of people—and polluting the environment for
ages to come. Others, including recently some other self-styled environmentalists, have pointed
to America’s nuclear power industry as being amazingly safe and effective, especially in view of
the fact that it contributes essentially nothing to global warming. Examine the ethical issues
surrounding nuclear power.
a. Schwenke video on how nuclear reactors work…video.
b. Intelligence Squared debate on nuclear power…video.
c. Columbia panel discussion on the future of nuclear power…video.
97. Many colleges have speech codes that prohibit students from saying or writing things which
other students find harassing or offensive. In some cases, students who have been punished for
violating these codes have in turn successfully sued their colleges for violation of the right to free
speech. Examine the ethical issues surrounding campus speech codes and (more generally) free
speech on campus.
a. Paikin panel on free speech on campus…video.
b. Stossel episode critical of college speech codes…video.
c. ReasonTV interview with Prof. Kors skeptical of speech codes…video.
d. ReasonTV interview with attorney Lukianoff skeptical of speech codes…video.
98. What are the ethical issues concerning off-shore oil drilling (if any)? You might want to
examine the recent BP Deepwater Horizon disaster (and perhaps the much older Exxon Valdez
fiasco). How have other countries dealt with the dangers implicit in this form of oil production?
For example, the North Sea has been drilled for many years with few problems…why?
a. Shell Oil Company video on how deep water wells are drilled…video.
b. History Channel documentary on deep water drilling…video.
c. Oceana documentary opposing deep water drilling…video.
d. BBC documentary on the BP spill…video.
e. CBS/60 Minutes report on lingering effects of BP oil spill…video.
99. Examine the moral issues surrounding the Google experience in China. Did Google live up
to its motto, “Don’t be evil”? Are they now living up to their motto? Why/why not?
a. Google internal talk about its plans in China…video.
b. Google insider explains why Google left China…video.
c. Levy on why Google left China…video.
d. CBS News report China vs. Google…video.
e. Larson report on the Google exit…video.
f. PressTV report on the China/Google split…video.
100. Discuss the issuer of Napster and whether artists have a right to endless royalties for their
music. What was the impact of Apple’s introduction of iTunes? And the lawsuit of Sony?
a. Gloor in favor of music piracy…video.
b. French on the change in the music industry…part I video.
c. French report…pat II video.
d. Gene Simmons argues that the fans killed the music industry…video.
101. Some people have called for privatizing AMTRAK. What does that mean? Why do some
people favor doing it? What reasons to people have for opposing it? What is AMTRAK anyway,
and why does it exist?
a. Stossel report critical of AMTRAK…video.
b. Coons favoring funding for AMTRAK…video.
c. O’Toole favoring privatizing transportation…video.
102. What is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS, NPR)? Some people have called for
defunding or privatizing it. What would this mean? What reasons do they have for doing it?
What reasons do others give for opposing it?
a. Lamonna report critical of efforts to defund PBS/Corporation for Public
Broadcasting…video.
103. What is the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)? Some people have called for privatizing it.
What does this mean? What reasons do they offer for doing it? What reasons do people offer for
opposing it?
a. CSPAN report on the history of the TVA…video.
b. TheLipTV report critical of Obama’s consideration of privatizing TVA…video.
c. Chattanooga report on proposal to sell TVA…video.