Distributive Justice, Catholic Social Teaching, and the Moral Responsibility of Marketers

This commentary uses as its platform an essay by Karpatkin (1999) titled Toward a Fair and Just Marketplace for All Consumers: The Responsibilities of Marketing Professionals. This article supports Karpatkin\u27s position that, too often, large corporations are willing to exploit weak and vulnerable consumers as the means to unsavory financial gain. Vulnerable groups include the poor, children, and the disadvantaged elderly. Essentially, Karpatkin raises questions about the lack of distributive justice for these consumer segments in the marketplace. In answer to this, the author presents a religion-inspired business ethics. Using a body of writing sometimes called Catholic Social Teaching (CST), the author describes and discusses a set offour guiding ethical principles. At the foundation of CST is the principle of human dignity. Building on this base, the author explores three additional principles: stewardship, preferential option for the vulnerable, and worker dignity. Together, these principles provide a blended moral theory that outlines a rationale for giving economically or socially disadvantaged consumer segments distinct and special moral treatment in the marketplace

Taking Economic Equality Off the Table

Nichol considers Pres Clinton\u27s Administration\u27s record on issues of economic equality, including California Gov Pete Wilson\u27s plan to discriminate against newly arrived California welfare recipients. The Clinton Administration has not been alone in taking economic fairness off the political agenda, but they have clearly done their part