Business Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Ethics - Research Paper Example The gradual awareness of consumers regarding how products are made, what practices are being adapted in buying and selling of raw materials have relatively push them to reassess their decisions regarding what goods and services they purchase and consume. (Carrigan, Szmigin & Wright, 2004) An interesting question however arises regarding as to what actually motivates consumers to adapt ethical behavior? Whether the overall ethical awareness of the consumers have reached to a point where they are now able to clearly evaluate and assess the consequences of their purchase decisions on the society and world as a whole? But is there anything with the name of ethical consumption? How consumers can draw the line between their responsibilities as well as how much responsible they are for their purchase decisions. Are businesses responsible too for their actions? These are some of the questions which will be explored in this article. Ethical Consumption There are many factors which actually ou tline as to why there has been a shift towards ethical consumption. ... Ethical consumers therefore tend to focus more on evaluating different aspects of companies including their hiring processes, use of animal products, the damage done to environment etc. Spending has been given a global as well as individual morality wherein consumers perceive themselves as custodian of earth. At the individual level, spending is considered as the clearest way through which consumers actually demonstrate their moral choices. (Freestone & McGoldrick, 2008) The overall notion of ethical consumers and ethical consumption emerged out of the concept of green consumer. Ethical consumption however, is believed to be a relatively complex web of decisions which are being made by the consumer. Ethical consumer therefore not only assesses the impact of his buying on the environment but also adds human element to the green consumption also. Ethical consumers therefore also include matter of conscience in their decision making regarding the purchases they plan to make. (Strong, 19 96) Though it has been argued that consumers have become ethical because of improvements in technology as well as information flow however, still limited nature of information may limit consumers’ ability to know the true outcome of their purchase decisions. It has also been suggested that unequal distribution of wealth may also be one of the reasons as to whether there can be ethical consumers in first place? It is argued that until and unless issue of unequal distribution of wealth is not addressed, consumers may never be able to fulfill their democratic role as ethical consumers. (Shaw & Clarke, 1998) Is there any ethical consumption Above arguments suggest that consumers may not be able to fully become