Behavioral economics and business ethics

Using experimental and other studies, behavioural economics helps to improve the decision-making architecture for economic policy. The measures proposed include changing default settings and other forms of green nudging to improve ecological sustainability.

The field of business and corporate ethics shows how conflicts can arise between entrepreneurial profit-seeking and the legitimate interests of society. However, our researchers also point out how constructive ways can be found to resolve such conflicts. Regulatory ethics, for example, shows how the state can intervene to provide an appropriate regulatory framework, business ethics points out how companies can assume voluntary responsibility and invest in trust and reputation, while personal ethics highlights how individuals themselves can behave in a more principled way.

Typical topics in business ethics are corruption, illicit employment, the shadow economy, corporate social responsibility, consumer protection, supply chain law and environmental protection. In addition, business ethics provides answers to the questions raised by post-growth theories and alternative measures of well-being such as life satisfaction. It also examines the importance of trust and social capital for the development of societies.