Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons^™

The Concrete Picket Fence: Reconnecting Interstate-Straddled Urban Communities, Brian J. Koluch

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Within the ongoing dialogue on substantive equity, the circumstances regarding enduring issues faced by black urban neighborhoods are called into question. Cities across the United States typically have major automotive arteries that tend to cut through or past said neighborhoods. Advocates argue that it is increasingly apparent that these systems of infrastructure especially in regard to these neighborhoods have been constructed in racist manners. Urban Interstates majorly contribute to equity disadvantages, as well as environmental hazards such as increased rates of asthma and respiratory disease. By mixing and matching various forms of equitable infrastructure, such as with cap parks, public …

Not On My Zoning Board: Achieving Mass Transit Development Despite Nimby Pushback, Brian J. Koluch

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Within the political discussion on local, state, and federal levels, all politicians seem to agree that U.S. Interstates are a crucial lifeline for many. Conjointly, city planners and scholars understand that we have a logistics issue in cities that can’t seem to handle highway congestion. When prompted with mass transit solutions, some community members protest them for altering the neighborhood in a presumably negative way, leading to the phrase; “Not in my back yard.” Thus, local governing bodies seem paralyzed to take the actions needed to move forward with these implementation strategies. Local governments, in order to circumvent the socially …

Do Major Customers Affect Firms' Environmental, Social And Governance Activities?, Feng Dong, John A. Doukas, Stephanie Walton, Rongyao Gloria Zhang, Yiyang Zhang

Finance Faculty Publications

We examine the role of major customers in shaping firms' environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. We find that firms with major customer relationships undertake fewer ESG activities compared to those without such ties. The association is attenuated when institutional ownership is high, firms are less diversified, customers exhibit greater bankruptcy risk and lower switching costs and during periods of elevated equity market sentiment. Taken together, our findings highlight that reliance on a concentrated customer base can weaken firms’ incentives to engage in ESG practices, with important implications for supply chain sustainability.

The Tech-Nuclear Renaissance: A New Critical Juncture For American Nuclear Energy Policy, Henry P. Otte

CMC Senior Theses

Nuclear energy has re-emerged as a central priority in American energy policy. This thesis examines the Trump administration’s efforts to support nuclear energy development and plant restarts, and asks whether today’s nuclear renaissance represents a critical juncture for nuclear energy policy. By analyzing American, French, and Swedish nuclear energy history, this thesis applies a three-variable analytical framework, state autonomy and administrative structure, political permeability, and crisis influence, to identify the institutional conditions necessary for durable policy change and evaluate the structural characteristics of this new environment. The central finding is that today’s push is distinct from prior attempts at expansion, …

Politics As Usual: Racial Pay Inequity And The Illusion Of Inclusion In The Rise And Fall Of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Accessibility Executive Orders, Francois C. Melville

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This research examines pressing moral policy questions of our time: who determines when the United States of America has fulfilled its broken promise of equality for all, and what constitutes an appropriate measure of reparative justice. It interrogates why the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Orders (EOs) implemented across presidential administrations, intended to advance social equity, were grounded in conflict and symbolic gestures rather than scientifically evidenced issues such as wage inequality directly linked to upward career mobility. Race conscious policy generates cultural clashes centered on the perception that gains made by Black and Brown Americans come at the …

Case Study: The Economic And Legal Challenges Moving From A Township To A City, George F. Dierberger Dr., Ibrahim Keita Dr., Cory Erickson

Journal of the North American Management Society

The paper examines the economic and legal challenges moving from a township to a municipality in the state of Minnesota. One of the authors was a member of the township board as they went through the process of educating the citizens on the risks and rewards of changing from a township to a municipality.

Maximizing Online Intersession Enrollment Through Targeted Course Offerings, Heather S. Mcmillan, Charles D. Mcallister

Journal of the North American Management Society

Abstract

Online winter intersession courses have become an increasingly important strategy for universities seeking to support accelerated student progression while generating incremental tuition revenue. This study examines ten years of winter intersession enrollment data from a public, master’s-level comprehensive university in the Midwestern United States to identify course characteristics associated with higher student enrollment. Using 12,520 individual enrollment records, the analysis focuses on course type (general education versus major requirement), course classification (lower level, upper level, blended undergraduate/graduate, and graduate), and course discipline. A series of ANOVAs and Bonferroni post-hoc tests reveal significant differences in enrollment across these dimensions, with …

Organizational Pitfalls Of The Dual-Identity Leader, Yvonne Randolph, Asa Wilson

Journal of the North American Management Society

The dual-identity leader (D-IL) is an individual assigned to one job description yet is, in practice, fulfilling an additional position’s role. This secondary role is self-determined; has not been assigned yet is being allowed by those with governance and/or executive authority. Three case examples of the D-IL are presented and discussed as a problematic leadership configuration for an organization. The personal characteristics driving this approach are identified as a foundation for clarifying the organizational consequences of such an executive leader. Preventative and corrective tactics are discussed that eliminate or minimize the adverse impact of the D-IL’s organizational behavior.

Reflections At The Close Of My Freshman Year As Editor, Heather S. Mcmillan

Journal of the North American Management Society

No abstract provided.

Trustworthy Ai: Prohibited Practices, Ethical Principles, And The Identification Of Problems, Anna Karmańska

Journal of Global Awareness

The following considerations arise from the study of texts of documents of a legal nature and from the author’s judgments. They do not present the results of the author’s own empirical research; however, they constitute a factual study that is important for their undertaking in the next step. Having given concern but also hopes for AI, the author focuses her attention on issues that, not only in her opinion, have a strong bearing on the preservation of humanity in a digital environment and at the same time with technocratic features. These issues (prohibited practices, high-risk systems, and ethics) related to …

Ai And Racism: 6 Reasons Black People Need Digital Literacy, Brianna A. Baker

Publications and Research

Key Points

• AI often reflects racial bias in its training data, which can distort how Black people are represented.
• Psychological stress increases when digital tools misunderstand or misinterpret Black experiences.
• Digital literacy strengthens emotional wellbeing by helping users recognize and counter biased outputs.

Growing Up Under Mao And Deng: On Politician Ideology And Corporate Policies, Hao Liang, Rong Wang, Haikun Zhu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We provide firm-level evidence on how politicians’ ideologies shape economic outcomes, using a unique setting of ideological discontinuity in China, transitioning from Maoism to Dengism around 1978. We find that ideological exposure during a politician’s early adulthood has a lasting impact on contemporary firm policies in their city. Firms governed by “Maoist mayors” show greater stakeholder spending, lower pay inequality, and less internationalization compared with those governed by “Dengist mayors.” Further evidence suggests that politicians’ ideologies influence corporate behaviors through nonpolicy channels, and these results cannot be fully explained by selection bias, endogenous matching, or the age of the mayor.

5th International Annual Conference Proceedings: A New Global Order, Yet Again, Centre For Business And Economic Research (Cber), School Of Economics And Social Sciences (Sess)

Conference Proceedings

The School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS) and the Center for Business and Economics Research (CBER) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, are pleased to announce the 5th International Annual Conference on "A New Global Order, Yet Again" In an era marked by geopolitical realignments, technological innovations, green transitions, climate change, and evolving trade dynamics, the global economic landscape is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Developing economies today face multifaceted challenges: leveraging new opportunities in a decentralized global system while managing debt insolvency risk, uncertainties in international trade, climate change vulnerabilities, and rising socioeconomic inequality.

This conference seeks …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Rightsizing Regulations To Foster Innovation And A Healthy Business Environment: Insights From Elite Executives, Brian Charles Mulligan, Nelson Granados

Engaged Management ReView

This study examines insights from business executives on how TRAILS—that is, taxes, regulations, assessments, interventions, litigation, and subsidies—influence entrepreneurial behavior and firm performance. Using an applied constructivist grounded theory design, we conducted 17 in-depth interviews to identify how top business executives view the effects of regulations on business performance. We adopt the premise that the right level and set of regulations lead to a healthier business environment. We find that right-sized TRAILS catalyze entrepreneurial dynamism, whereas wrong-sized TRAILS impose hidden opportunity costs, stifle innovation, and erode institutional trust. Crucially, the study reveals the vital role of the government as …

Review Of Ai Needs You: How We Can Change Ai’S Future And Save Our Own, Tracy A. Fernandez Rysavy

Feminist Pedagogy

AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI’s Future and Save Our Own urges citizens to band together now, while A.I. is still in its nascent stages, to head off its potentially destructive repercussions and ensure that the technology serves more than just a wealthy few. While such efforts might seem out of reach in our polarized society, author Verity Harding points to three cases from history where policy was heavily influenced by multistakeholder collaborations. This review encourages educators to use the book as a way to study business ethics; out-of-the-box thinking; and intersectional, inclusive consensus-building over a top-down approach.

Silent Signals: Human Trafficking And The Dental Professional’S Duty To Act, Pamela Zarkowski

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Human trafficking is a global public health and human rights crisis that includes forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Dental professionals are uniquely positioned to recognize signs of trafficking, as many victims encounter healthcare settings, including dental offices, during their exploitation. This article introduces the types and prevalence of trafficking, outlines legal and ethical responsibilities, and provides clinical red flags, case scenarios, and actionable strategies for screening and reporting. Myths that hinder detection are also addressed. By recognizing their ethical duty to protect vulnerable patients, dental professionals can become vital allies in the identification and support of trafficking survivors.

21st-Century Dental Public Health: Revisiting The Role Of Community Water Fluoridation, Larry Williams, Preetha Kanjirath

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Community water fluoridation (CWF) has been celebrated as a major public health achievement, significantly reducing dental caries and narrowing oral health disparities. While historically effective, today’s fluoride exposure landscape has shifted, with multiple sources contributing to cumulative intake. This article reviews the scientific foundation, mechanisms of action, public health benefits, and ethical considerations surrounding CWF, alongside real-world outcomes from policy reversals. It examines contemporary concerns, including potential neurodevelopmental risks and vulnerable populations, and calls for recalibrated policies that maintain caries prevention benefits while monitoring total fluoride exposure to ensure safety in modern contexts.

Digital Media, Truth Decay, And The Inversion Of Trust In Science, Nicholas Mosca

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Digital media enables the rapid dissemination of scientific oral health information from subject experts to the public. However, it also poses significant risks by facilitating the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation, thereby blurring the boundaries between truth and fallacy. This paper characterizes the decay of scientific truth in policymaking, characterized by increased public debate about scientific facts and a decline in confidence in science. It describes psychological mechanisms, such as confirmation bias and motivated reasoning, and social dynamics, including algorithm-driven content distribution and echo chambers, that accelerate the circulation of misleading science information. It suggests psychological interventions to counter misinformation, …

Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Community Water Fluoridation, Roopwant Kaur, Herminio Perez, Mark Moss

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Since the 1950s, community water fluoridation (CWF) has stood as a cornerstone of dental public health. However, a growing amount of public scrutiny necessitates reflection on the ethical basis for coming to a firm position on the topic. Aside from CWF, fluoride in the form of ingestible supplements has recently been identified as a concern by the US Food and Drug Administration. Indeed, it is challenging to wade through the facts, opinions, misinformation, and policy shifts. This article examines the ethical dilemmas that surround CWF through the lens of the American Dental Association (ADA) Principles of Ethics and Code of …

J Am Coll Dent 2025 92 1

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

How Can The Role Of The Judiciary In International Climate Governance Be Formalised To Ensure Accountability And Action When Governmental Political Institutions Fall Short?, Roy Abi Raad

COP30

Conventional Governance Framework have recurrently proved inadequate to tackle the extent and immediacy of environmental concerns as the climate calamity worsens. The judiciary has evolved into a crucial player in the assertion for climate justice because of this governance deficit. Courts can safeguard human rights, interpret international treaties, and hold people accountable for environmental deterioration, function that are acquiring increasing significance important in both developed and developing nations. Nevertheless, they lack institutional mechanism to legally incorporate the judiciary within the international climate governance framework (such as the UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, and Loss and Damage Fund). In order to guarantee accountability, …

Holding Transnational Corporations Accountable For Ecocide And Climate-Related Human Rights Violations, Njengue Cindy Joanne

COP30

The climate emergency and the scale of environmental harm require moving beyond voluntary and overly localized approaches to establish binding legal mechanisms at the global level. Transnational corporations operating in high-impact ecological sectors must be held accountable for their actions — not only to remedy the damage caused, but also to prevent future violations. COP30 in Belém presents a unique opportunity to place legal and institutional accountability at the core of international negotiations. By building on existing instruments, the ethical ambitions of the COP presidency, and strengthened cooperation between states, civil society, and private actors, it is possible to construct …

Formalizing Judicial Accountability And Advancing Ecocide Law At Cop30, Ratania Edawi

COP30

The escalating climate crisis increasingly intersects with profound issues of justice, human rights, and planetary survival, bringing urgency to the concept of ecocide. Despite mounting ecological degradation, transnational corporate actors frequently evade accountability, often shielded by mechanisms like Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) systems that prioritize profit over people and the planet. This policy paper argues for the formalization of judicial accountability in global climate governance and the advancement of ecocide law under international frameworks. It highlights the critical role of the judiciary in safeguarding environmental and human rights, particularly in the face of political inertia. Building on the ethical imperative …

Indigenous Communities Carbon Sovereignty: A Protocol For Climate Justice, Ecocide Prevention, And Security, Lojain Waleed

COP30

This policy paper examines the Climate justice, Ecocide and security implications of carbon market mechanisms for Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Despite global recognition of Indigenous people participation , existing frameworks under the UNFCCC and mechanisms often lack enforceable safeguards to protect Indigenous sovereignty. The paper identifies critical gaps in governance, particularly the absence of Indigenous-led oversight in Carbon markets. Drawing on two case studies: Yurok Tribe and Ogiek people, it demonstrates how carbon markets can reproduce neo-colonial patterns of resource appropriation. To address these challenges, the paper proposes the Indigenous communities Carbon Sovereignty Protocol (ICCSP) as a governance framework, outlining implementation …

Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure And Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence From Vietnam, Nguyen T. Tran, Nhung T. Le, Tung D. Nguyen

Economic and Business Review

This study examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and firm performance, with particular attention to CSR's role as a mitigating mechanism during periods of economic crisis, notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a unique hand-collected dataset comprising CSR disclosures from Vietnamese publicly listed firms in the VNR500 index between 2014 and 2021, the analysis employs both accounting-based (return on equity) and market-based (Tobin's Q) performance indicators. The empirical findings indicate a positive association between CSR disclosure and firm performance across both measures. Disaggregated analysis reveals that governance-related disclosures significantly enhance market valuation, whereas the presence of a …

Doing Business On Indian Reservations: Tribal Business Owners' Perspectives On Entrepreneurship, Terry L. Anderson, Thomas Stratmann

Indigenous Business & Public Administration

This paper reports insights from focus group discussions from Montana reservations, which provide insights and perspectives on the experiences of Native American entrepreneurs. The narratives from these discussions highlight the challenges the current regulatory context poses for entrepreneurial activities and their communities. The participants spoke of regulatory unpredictability and inefficiency, resulting in uncertainty faced by business owners and thus not impeding economic prosperity. The discussions also revealed a disconnect between tribal governments and community members, characterized by a lack of transparency and accountability. Judicial independence emerged as another significant concern. These insights from the focus groups suggest a path forward …

Ka Mua, Ka Muri—Walking Backwards Into The Future: Revitalizing Indigenous Economies And Economies Of Well-Being, Suzie Greenhalgh, Jason Mika, Christopher Alcantara, Shaun Awatere, Kendon Bell, Kiri Dell, Donn L. Feir, Dustin Frye, Diane Jarvis, Taryn Kong, Kirsten Maclean, Cathy Robinson, Chellie Spiller, Rachel M. Wolfgramm, Emma Woodward

Indigenous Business & Public Administration

The concept of and desire for well-being economies are rising in prevalence as traditional business paradigms are questioned and alternative framings are being sought. Indigenous peoples, their economies, and their approach to business can provide a rich source of learning to enable and help facilitate a transition to economies of well-being. As Indigenous peoples are emerging from their colonial pasts, they are becoming more empowered to make investment choices, use business models, and form partnerships grounded in their worldviews, which are often well aligned with a well-being economy.

In this paper, we note some of the obstacles Indigenous economies have …

Bank Stocks And Roosevelt’S Bank Holiday, Marc Weidenmier, Angela Vossmeyer, Nathan Stella, Oncel Aldanmaz

Business Faculty Articles and Research

Roosevelt’s Bank Holiday in March 1933 aimed to halt bank runs and implement licensing for banks. Using a new hand-collected daily database, we examine how bank stocks and bond markets responded to this sweeping regulation. We find that New York City banks saw significant negative abnormal returns, while Chicago banks experienced positive returns, highlighting regional differences in perceptions of the policy. Corporate bond yields fell by 1.4 percentage points, lowering interest rates. Our findings show how markets reacted differently across regions and asset classes to this critical intervention.

The Crossfit Affiliate Business Model: The Risks Of The “Unknown And Unknowable”, Anasheh G. Oliven

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

In the wake of the tragic death of six-time Elite athlete Lazar Ðukič at the 2024 CrossFit Games, this study explores how CrossFit, LLC can enhance its public image and cultivate more substantial relationships with its affiliates and customer network. This purposeful case study examines the events surrounding Ðukič’s death in conjunction with founder Greg Glassman’s “Floyd-19” controversy, to posit that authenticity, transparency, and trust are three missing factors in the business model. With intentional and explicit collaboration with the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association, this study argues that the organization’s Affiliate Business Model can be enhanced and affiliate and customer …