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Joseph Heath’s Ethics for Capitalists: The Market Failures Approach 2.0

Author

Listed:
  • Santiago Mejia

    (Gabelli School of Business)

  • Robert Mass

    (The New School for Social Research, Philosophy Department)

Abstract

In his latest book, Ethics for Capitalists, Joseph Heath draws on his many years of thinking about business ethics to propose, as the book’s subtitle indicates, “a systematic approach to business ethics, competition, and market failure.” He develops his argument carefully, draws on a wealth of interdisciplinary work, uses valuable and insightful examples, contrasts his views with important alternatives, and provides responses to compelling objections. In this review article, we argue that his book revises and sharpens many of Heath’s earlier ideas, addressing important criticisms raised against them. We highlight that the book also offers a broad macro-level framework for market design, an explanation of how current corporate governance structures fit such a framework, and concrete responses to micro-level questions about what businesses and individuals ought to do. By doing all of this, his book shifts the scope of the “market failures approach” (MFA) from what used to be a narrow focus on the obligations of professional managers to an encompassing “ethics for capitalists” that ought to guide any economic actor within a capitalistic system. Despite the many merits of his book, we conclude by discussing some concerns we have about its scope and methodology.

Suggested Citation

  • Santiago Mejia & Robert Mass, 2025. "Joseph Heath’s Ethics for Capitalists: The Market Failures Approach 2.0," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 197(1), pages 13-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:197:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05712-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05712-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Heath, Joseph & Moriarty, Jeffrey & Norman, Wayne, 2010. "Business Ethics and (or as) Political Philosophy," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 427-452, July.
    2. Jeffrey Moriarty, 2020. "On the Origin, Content, and Relevance of the Market Failures Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 113-124, August.
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