Researching and Teaching Business Ethics in Europe: Developments, Challenges and Opportunities (Ethical Economy, 2)

This book provides a description and analysis of how the concept of business ethics has been received, adopted, adapted and developed in different countries in Europe. While a substantial Europe-wide dialogue about business ethics research and education has taken place since about 1990, especially as a result of the establishment of the European Business Ethics Network, implementation has varied by country, because Europe is a patchwork of cultures, value systems, political ideologies, intellectual traditions and business systems at different stages of development. Each country, particularly the former communist states, presents its own unique challenges. Yet there are also issues that are common to all or most countries, even if the ways they have been manifested and responded to have differed, depending on the countries’ institutional frameworks and traditions. This book explores the rich variety in business ethics research and education across a diverse range of European countries. Each chapter presents the expert view of individual business ethics scholars in the respective countries. Their perspectives and recollections are those of reflective professionals, and therefore unique, insightful, and bearing the mark of a deep conviction and personal engagement. This is the story of European business ethics told from within, which will be of great value to all business ethics scholars wishing to understand the development of their field.

Christopher Cowton became Emeritus Professor in 2019, having served the University of Huddersfield as Professor of Accounting (1996-2016), Dean of the Business School (2008-2016) and Professor of Financial Ethics (2016-2019). He previously lectured at the University of Oxford (1986-1996), Cardiff (1982-1986) and Aberystwyth (1980-1982). He was Chair of the UK Chapter of EBEN, the European Business Ethics Network, 1998-2001, and from 2019 to 2023, he was Associate Director of the Institute of Business Ethics, a London-based charity that promotes high standards of business behaviour based on ethical values. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds' Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (IDEA) Centre (UK), the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao (Spain) and the University of Bergamo (Italy). Chris is also a recipient of the Life-time Achievement Award of the British Accounting and Finance Association.

Heidi von Weltzien Høivik is professor emerita of business ethics and leadership and was, from 1989 until 1993, elected Executive Vice-President and Dean of Faculty (Prorektor) of the Norwegian School of Management. She is a Fellow of the Harvard Executive Program of the Institute of Education Management, and a Fellow of the Harvard Program on International Negotiations. From 1995 to 1997 she was Visiting Professor at Tel Aviv International School of Management, Israel. In 1994/5, she launched the Center for Ethics and Leadership at the Norwegian School of Management and developed the curriculum in Business Ethics, mainly for the graduate school and executive management programs. From 1999 until October 2005, she was President of the European Business Ethics Network (EBEN), an international organization she has been actively involved in since 1989. In December 2003 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor Degree by the Estonian Business School for her outstanding work in promoting the field of business ethics teaching and research in Europe.

Ronald Jeurissen became Emeritus Professor in 2025, having served Nyenrode Business University as Professor of Business Ethics (2003-2025). He was part of the Nyenrode Faculty Expertise Center Entrepreneurship, Governance & Stewardship. Ronald was director of the Institute for Integrity Management and Business Ethics. In the footsteps of the late Prof. Henk van Luijk, Ronald held the oldest business ethics chair in Europe, founded in Nyenrode in 1985. In addition, he provided courses in methodology and philosophy of science.

Bart Jansen is assistant professor of legal philosophy and ethics at Nyenrode Business University, the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, and since 2023 researcher at New York University (NYU) at the Philosophy Department. At Nyenrode, Bart is a member of the Nyenrode Faculty Expertise Center Entrepreneurship, Governance & Stewardship and is a member of the Nyenrode Corporate Governance Institute. Since the Spring of 2022, he has been adjunct professor of legal philosophy at the Airlangga University in Surabaya, Indonesia, and since 2025 adjunct professor of corporate governance at the Anton de Kom University in Paramaribo, Suriname.