Ties That Bind

By whose standards should business be judged? As the world of commerce expands to include a diverse mix of countries, cultures, and institutions, the answer to this question grows increasingly complicated. "Ties That Bind", written by two leading thinkers in the field of business ethics, offers a new approach to resolving today's most pressing questions about business behavior among diverse groups of people. Corporate leaders face ethical dilemmas everywhere, but nowhere is their challenge greater than on the global stage. While some cultures emphasize individual property rights, others might favor cooperative behavior and societal sharing. Drawing from classic political philosophy and leading-edge social contract theory, the authors provide a much-needed framework for making sensitive ethical judgments about economic and business behavior. Building on the fundamentals of respect and tolerance, "Ties That Bind" is an inspiring guide to the new social contracts for business, one that reflects the rich mix of cultural and religious attitudes in our global society.

Thomas Donaldson is the Mark O. Winkelman Professor of Legal Studies and director of the Wharton Ethics Program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Thomas W. Dunfee is the Joseph Kolodny Professor of Social Responsibility in Business; professor of legal studies and marketing; and director of the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.