Ethics - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Oversaturation Leads to Casino Closings

September 30, 2014

In 1988, just two states allowed casino gambling. Today, New Jersey and Nevada are joined by more than 35 other states that have legalized casinos. Over the years, local governments across the nation promoted gambling as a way to generate additional tax revenue. Plenty of municipalities bought into the idea, leading to a rush of casino construction throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Like so many other industries, business was good until the recession hit in 2008. Since then, not only Continue reading →

Ethics, Branding, Entertainment, Regulation, Oversaturation, Gambling

Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] No Credit? No Problem

September 15, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

In order to attract cash-strapped buyers, more auto dealers are offering sub-prime loans on vehicles for people with poor credit. This video and the one below document the potential dangers of this financing practice.

https://nyti.ms/1lgctaY

Questions:

What are the major advantages and disadvantages of sub-prime lending?

Are investors in bundled sub-prime car loans taking on significant risk?

From The New York Times

Cars, Banking, Finance, Subprime, Ethics

Videos

Corporations Fill Foreign Aid Void

September 2, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

In the mid-20^th century, many struggling nations around the world relied heavily on outside governments for assistance. Foreign aid of this nature accounted for 71 percent of all worldwide capital flows as recently as 1960. As the years progressed, however, governments largely removed themselves from the global development game. Today, foreign aid accounts for less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget and only 9 percent of current capital flows.

To fill this void, non-governmental organizations and groups such Continue reading →

Coca-Cola, Global, Ethics, Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Foreign Aid

Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion

[VIDEO] See the Startup Developed in Prison

September 1, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

An entrepreneurial incubator in California’s Folsom Prison teaches inmates business skills that can help them adjust to life after release.

Questions:

Why are programs like the Last Mile important good for society?

What message did inmate Trevor Bird offer that’s important to remember?

From CNN Money

Ethics, Entrepreneurship, Product Development, Incubators, Prison

Videos

The Myth of the Labor Skills Gap

August 26, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Economists have long argued that a skills gap is growing among the American workforce. Hundreds of businesses both large and small have echoed this sentiment, claiming that there aren’t enough qualified people to perform certain jobs. However, in most cases this line of thinking simply doesn’t add up. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed people exceeds the number of jobs available in every industry. In durable goods manufacturing, for instance, there are approximately 576,000 idle Continue reading →

Ethics, Training, Manufacturing, Labor Relations, Unemployment, Compensation

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management

Turning Caregiving into a Franchise

August 23, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

In order to turn a successful business into a successful franchise, an entrepreneur needs a strong concept along with good people to implement it. That’s exactly what Allen Hager set out to do when he launched his home health care company, Right at Home, as a franchise nearly 20 years ago. By expanding the business plan and setting strict hiring policies, Right at Home has grown into a company with nearly 400 locations across the world and $265 million Continue reading →

Ethics, Franchising, Entrepreneurship, Seniors, Health, Right at Home

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 5: Forms of Business Ownership, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 14: Product and Price

The NCAA’s Image Issues

August 11, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

In 2014 a judge granted Northwestern University’s football players collective bargaining rights. Although it was later overturned, this landmark decision heightened the debate about compensation for college athletes to a whole new level, and it didn’t take long for another major legal ruling to follow it. In early August a U.S. district judged found in favor of former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon and 19 others regarding the image rights of athletes. According to the ruling, the NCAA violates anti-trust Continue reading →

NCAA, Ethics, Labor Relations, Sports, Copyright, College

Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

EU Nations Add Underground Economies to GDP

August 5, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Even though the U.S. has a gross domestic product (GDP) valued at nearly $17 trillion, that huge figure still doesn’t come close to providing a complete picture of the American economy. Each year billions upon billions of transactions go undocumented, untaxed, and ultimately unrecorded by official GDP statisticians. Whether it’s earning a few bucks by mowing a neighbor’s lawn or by selling drugs, these concealed deals all form what’s known as the underground economy.

Many economists have said that it’s Continue reading →

Regulation, Ethics, Europe, Finance, GDP, Financial Data, Underground Economy

Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility

Tax Dodging Corporations Cost the U.S. Billions

August 1, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

For decades big companies have done their best to avoid hefty corporate tax rates levied by Uncle Sam. The U.S. government collects 35 percent of a domestically based corporation’s income, a figure based on the entirety of the company’s worldwide revenue. This mighty bite from the bottom line leads many firms to reincorporate their companies in places like the Cayman Islands or Ireland, where the corporate tax rate is just 12.5 percent. While this process of “inversion” is entirely legal, Continue reading →

Cayman Islands, Global, Ethics, Regulation, Taxes, Ireland

Chapter 2: Economics, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 17: Accounting, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law

[VIDEO] Humans Need Not Apply

August 1, 2014

NickelsMcHughMcHugh

Recent technological advancements in automation could soon make many human workers obsolete, according to this rather bleak video. Due to the length and potentially overwhelming nature of this piece, we recommend showing just the first five minutes.

Questions:

What has been the true value of mechanical advancements for society?

What is the key message sent forth in this video?

From CGP Grey

Innovation, Automation, Ethics, Human Resources

Videos