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

Marketing Metrics to the American Public: An Interview with Dr. Eugene Laczniak

One of the major problems confronting the metrication movement is the general lack of publicity and public awareness of the scope of the metric system. The work already performed as well as that still needed to be done to bring metrication to fruition needs considerable attention. The application of marketing principles and programs can have a potentially great effect on the success of the work of metric activists. During the course of this interview, conducted in late November, 1977, Dr. Eugene Laczniak suggests some of the ways in which marketing can be made to work for metrication; and he offers vital insights into the means by which metrication can become a fixed reality in American life, business, industry, government, and education