Business and Society: A Reader in the History, Sociology, and Ethics of Business

Combining perspectives on the interplay of two areas of primary importance to our lives--business and society--this anthology brings together a wide range of readings on the subject. Topics include the historical evolution of the business enterprise, the emergence and development of the labor force, and the impact of the international marketplace. Castro concentrates on the moral and social aspects of business, the way it affects national economy, the environment, careers, the disadvantaged, government, and public opinion. Combining the idea that a good business education must also be a good liberal education, Castro is careful to show the connections between the way Americans have done and thought about business in the past, with the way Americans think and do business today. Considering the abundance of socioeconomic issues in everyday life, he shows that business ethics has always been an integral part of business, and that this continues to be true. He shows that the historical, social, and ethical dimensions of business are an inseparable and necessary component of business education. Chosen for their student interest and accessibility, the readings can be used for a variety of different courses covering business and society.