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Ethics education has recently garnered a great deal of attention; it has been viewed as a remedy against a plague of diverse forms of immoral practices carried out by businesses and consumers. Markedly, ethics education has proved its effectiveness in influencing students' moral cognition and behavior as future business practitioners. However, the effect of being exposed to ethics courses on students as consumers has not been investigated yet. Thus, a post-only quasi-experimental design was conducted to examine such an influence on the dimensions of moral attentiveness and consumer wisdom; as cognitive and behavioral constructs respectively. Results revealed that ethics education had a positive influence on students' reflective moral attentiveness as well as two dimensions of consumer wisdom, which are purpose and perspective. Finally, the research provides theoretical and practical implications as well as directions of the available research avenues for future researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In today's beauty‐obsessed culture, children are increasingly targeted by skincare marketing, raising significant ethical concerns. The trend of children adopting skincare routines focused on anti‐aging and skin lightening impacts their mental health and self‐esteem, often imposing unattainable beauty standards. Marketing practices in the digital age frequently violate the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Framework for Responsible Marketing Communication. Disparities in skincare marketing particularly affect children in low‐ and middle‐income countries. There is an urgent need for stringent regulations, enhanced media literacy education, and ethical marketing practices to safeguard young consumers and prioritize their well‐being and dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines paradoxes, challenges, and opportunities in the context of ethical customer experience management. Central to this discussion are different stakeholders such as firms, customers, policymakers, regulators, and society at large, as well as key issues associated with them. Firms aim to design and manage compelling experiences using customer data but face challenges balancing cost, customization, ethical concerns, and fairness in customer experience management. Customers should be encouraged to reflect on whether to share personal information for customized experiences, as well as on how far their responsibility goes in ensuring critically informed decision‐making. Policymakers and regulators must integrate the views of various stakeholders into policies and guidelines that promote a healthy society. Importantly, the digitization of customer experience has given rise to unprecedented ethical concerns related to the prospect of 'programming' these experiences. The shrinking temporal and spatial distance between stimuli, customer action, data footprint, and tracking poses significant reflections and dilemmas for both customers and firms. In this context, it is essential to determine ethical reflections and guidelines for customer experience design and management. We argue that firms should involve customers in assessing the implications of their experiences, while policymakers should facilitate the involvement of all stakeholders (including firms, customers, regulators, academics, and NGOs) to create an ongoing, healthy dialogue. This dialogue should guide a continuing debate aimed at evaluating the implications of specific actions in customer experience management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research challenges the entrenched belief that financial vulnerability affects only low-income consumers. Instead, most consumers across the socioeconomic spectrum experience varying degrees of financial vulnerability at different points during their lives, whether sporadically or chronically; vulnerability is dynamic and heterogeneous. The authors propose a novel, theory-driven definition of consumer financial vulnerability (CFV) as the risk of incurring future harm, given the consumer's current access to various financial resources. A new conceptual framework decouples "vulnerability" from "harm" to distinguish the state of CFV, its determinants (access to various interdependent financial resources), and the constructs it foreshadows (multiple interconnected forms of realized harm). Five research propositions follow: (1) financial resource volatility plays a vital role in CFV, (2) recovering from harm requires more financial resources than preventing harm, (3) a multiperiod lens is needed to assess CFV accurately, (4) greater financial resource access can increase CFV, and (5) generalized financial literacy is not a panacea for mitigating CFV. The propositions and their implications for marketing strategy, public policy, and consumer well-being offer a rich research agenda. The authors propose a measure of CFV—the probability that financial resources are insufficient to meet or exceed a harm threshold—for future empirical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there has been considerable theoretical support outlining a relationship between marketing ethics and customer loyalty, there is limited empirical evidence validating this relationship. This study examines the relationships among perceptions of marketing ethics and customer loyalty in a sample of Turkish consumers. The results demonstrate that marketing ethics is negatively related to customer loyalty. Furthermore, this research investigates the processes through which marketing ethics affects customer loyalty. The relationship between marketing ethics and customer loyalty is sequentially mediated by customer satisfaction and customer trust. On the other hand, this research also investigates whether voluntary simplicity has a moderating role in the impact of marketing ethics on customer satisfaction and customer trust. The results demonstrate that the relationship between marketing ethics and customer satisfaction is moderated by self-sufficiency and intangible life which are sub-dimensions of voluntary simplicity; however, there is no moderating role of planned shopping and simplicity in product which are the other sub-dimensions of voluntary simplicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the subject of marketing ethics has already been a neglected area. There is a lack of research in the field, especially from the developing world. Thus, this study explored the marketing ethics practice and perceptions of marketing practitioners in the wholesale and retail sector in a developing world context. A qualitative method was employed involving 35 interviews (based on the concept of saturation) with respondents (marketing practitioners) drawn from the wholesale and retail sector of the country. To analyze the qualitative data and ensure credibility, the authors applied qualitative data coding and analysis techniques and guidelines provided by qualitative researchers. The result of this data-driven analysis (grounded theory design with a narrative presentation) revealed unnerving ethical problems in the studied sector; such as hoarding, price fixing, exploiting customers’ weaknesses/ignorance, consumer ‘look’/appearance-based pricing, exaggeration in promoting products, selling fake products as original, bewildering consumers not to try products from other stores/restricting buyers autonomy, tainting, and tax evasion. The study provides strong evidence revealing ethical dilemmas in the study setting. The findings will contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the subject of marketing ethics (dilemmas) in a developing country context, where there is a dearth of such a study.

Network marketing's growth is plagued by ethical concerns, emphasizing the importance of implementing training programs that prioritize integrity. This study aims to analyze how different forms of network marketing training play a role in shaping the marketing ethics of trainees with different identities. It examines how network marketing training shapes ethical proneness of the trainees. Differences in trainee identity (college students vs. incumbent marketers) and training form (college course vs. online training) are also explored. Structural equation model (SEM) is established amongst adaptability, class cooperation, motivation, self-efficacy, and ethical proneness. Through textual analysis, questionnaires, and sim-structural interview, this research conducts three studies to empirically analyze the relationship between factors of marketing training and ethical proneness. It explores the influencing mechanisms of network marketing training on marketing ethics. The relationship between network marketing training and ethical propensity is partially confirmed. The shaping mechanism of marketing ethics is different under different trainee identities and training forms. Positive learning motivation and self-efficacy do not constantly improve trainees' marketing ethics. Informal online training plays a more significant role in shaping market ethics than college courses in network marketing. Lastly, college students are less likely to have their marketing ethics shaped by training than in-job marketers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing, which is in the process of evolving into being people-oriented, has started to take place in two basic human fields (sectors) that the state carries on such as law and health. However, in these sectors, marketing is relatively weak compared to other fields (sectors). The aim of this research is to reveal the level of perception and application of marketing in these two sectors. For this purpose, one-on-one interviews were conducted with lawyers and doctors. The obtained opinions were evaluated qualitatively, supported by quantitative data. According to this, lawyers and doctors perceive marketing to be limited to promotional activities such as presentations, advertising, and personal selling. Additionally, it has been revealed that lawyers have a more positive perception of marketing and possess more knowledge about it compared to doctors. Lawyers believe that marketers create more needs, while doctors believe they fulfill more needs. Doctors are expressing concerns about the ethics of marketing. In order for the understanding of service marketing or human-centricity to evolve in these two areas, it has been emphasized that the existing perceptions need to change first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this study is to highlight the superannuation industry in Australia as an exemplar and then compare this to other countries. To this end, an overview of the literature in the field considers various countries and their approaches. What emerges is that profound inequities in retirement funding will continue unless policies change. Superannuation tends to work well for males who are employed full time but less well for females in general and other groups such as the long-term unemployed, self-employed, contractors, transient populations, indigenous and people with illness and addictions. Having entire cohorts of citizens cascade into poverty upon retirement is a political embarrassment and a human rights issue. This is effectively a wicked problem that can be addressed by well-designed proactive social marketing and redesigned government and industry policy. Governments and industry should work together to find a way to augment the retirement plans of females and other marginalized groups.

This study aimed to identify the nature of marketing ethics in pharmaceutical companies and the basic concepts related to business development as well as to make a comparison between marketing ethics in its dimensions (economic, social and environmental). The descriptive analytical approach was used to study the relationship between companies. The study population represented pharmaceutical companies in the city of Dhamar and a questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 30 employees of the mother pharmaceutical companies in the city of Dhamar . The statistical analysis program (SPSS) was used to analyze the study data. The study revealed that there is an impact of marketing ethics on pharmaceutical companies operating in Yemen and sustainable development in its social dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes a structural approach to understand how complex organizations, in this case public school districts in the United States, implement programs to promote greater justice for consumers. Drawing on the integrative justice model as a guide, this study uses deductive grounded theory and axial coding to understand how social programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, both orchestrate and obstruct distributive justice (DJ). Leaning on public policy and macromarketing literature and using ethnographic data as a guide, the study proposes a market orchestration model of DJ to offer guidance on how social programs can promote greater DJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to examine new marketing ethics (ME) practices that can foster strong moral grounding in the fashion and apparel retail firms to delineate a new approach within this industry. We built on the distributive justice and stakeholder orientation literature to conduct a multi-case study with 15 self-proclaimed ethical fashion and apparel retailers to identify whether and how they differ from traditional and fast fashion retailers. Several data collection techniques were used to gather the evidence (i.e., direct observation, physical and online interviews) combined with a netnographic approach (i.e., online observation of websites and social media content). Our findings show that these firms are guided by ethical-centered values, which are reflected in their product components, purpose, communication practices, and sourcing practices, which point to the emergence of a new business approach. We contribute to the macromarketing literature by identifying a new perspective on the role of morality in ME based on distributive justice principles and stakeholder orientation. We also propose a more refined definition of ethical fashion and apparel retailers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides the primary material for scholarly discourse in digital marketing science related to online consumer behavior analysis for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical supplements during crises like the current pandemic of COVID-19. We examine the relationship between digital marketing ethics and consumer comfort, focusing on consumers' perceptions of privacy information concerns and the digital marketing ethics of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical supplements based on a survey method and the answers of a convenience sample. We gathered 370 responses from a structured questionnaire, where 274 participants stated that they purchase nutraceutical and pharmaceutical supplements online, and their answers are considered valid. We test seven research hypotheses concerning the consumers' marketing comfort, the current digital marketing ethics, communication privacy management, and consumer comfort in online commerce of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical supplements. The most critical research results are that Digital Marketing Ethics and Consumer comfort directly and positively affect a high-significance level of marketing comfort. We examine the impact of information privacy concerns regarding the gathering, unauthorized access, and secondary use on consumer comfort concerns of digital marketing practices for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical supplements, and the impact of digital marketing ethics concerns regarding digital marketers' responsibility for the first time in the body of literature on digital marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An online world exists in which businesses have become burdened with managerial and legal duties regarding the seeking of informed consent and the protection of privacy and personal data, while growing public cynicism regarding personal data collection threatens the healthy development of marketing and e-commerce. This research seeks to address such cynicism by assisting organisations to devise ethical consent management processes that consider an individual's attitudes, their subjective norms and their perceived sense of control during the elicitation of consent. It does so by developing an original conceptual model for online informed consent, argued through logical reasoning, and supported by an illustrative example, which brings together the autonomous authorisation (AA) model of informed consent and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Accordingly, it constructs a model for online informed consent, rooted in the ethic of autonomy, which employs behavioural theory to facilitate a mode of consent elicitation that prioritises users' interests and supports ethical information management and marketing practices. The model also introduces a novel concept, the informed attitude, which must be present for informed consent to be valid. It also reveals that, under certain tolerated conditions, it is possible for informed consent to be provided unwillingly and to remain valid: this has significant ethical, information management and marketing implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author of "Toward social responsibility, not the social responsibility semblance: Marketing does not need a conscience," published in the June 2022 AMS Review, offers replies to the two generally negative commentaries that appeared in the same issue. One adjunct section of this item also gives attention to the related issue of enviro-social-governance (ESG) as a corporate policy appendage. I am grateful not only to editors Steve Vargo and O. C. Ferrell for the opportunity to publish my "Social responsibility semblance" article in AMS Review (Gaski, 2022) but to the six commenters, including old friends J. J. Cronin and Pat Murphy, for their worthy efforts in analyzing and interpreting my piece. I will demonstrate my reciprocal respect by attempting the same level of thoroughness they applied. Other than hereby affirming my appreciation for the positive comments of Cronin (2022) and Ahluwalia (2022), I target my reactions now to the critiques of the other two commentary teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose here that marketing research should increase consideration of the brain health of consumers, and argue that it would help both extend our current knowledge of vulnerable and other marginalised groups, as well as extend generalizability and external validity of marketing research in general. We show that such a focus would help enrich methodology, especially around causal inference, as well as impact on our understanding of a number of key emerging themes in marketing research. We particularly focus on the consumer behaviour around digitalisation, as well as compulsive buying behaviour. Further, we show that increasing consideration of consumer brain health will further efforts towards inclusivity of marketing, and help continue progress towards marketing research as a force for good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As environmental protection changes from a purely social benefit to a social benefit mixed with an economic gain, the marketing strategy practice of corporate greenwashing is starting to become a popular research topic. However, the total number of existing review articles on greenwashing research is relatively small, and there are deficiencies in quantitative research and generalizability, scientificity and systematization. This paper attempts to bridge these gaps by combining systems theory with bibliometrics and using visualization techniques to analyze the evolution of knowledge structures and hotspots in greenwashing. Based on this, this paper takes the literature on greenwashing in the Web of Science core set database from 2004–2022 as a research sample and uses CiteSpace 5.8.R3 to conduct a descriptive statistical analysis and carve a visual map to reveal the evolution pattern of research in the field of greenwashing in a comprehensive and systematic way. The findings show that greenwashing research is prevalent in developed countries and continues to attract more scholars globally, focusing on the interpretation of greenwashing definitions and concepts, influencing factors, consequences and governance models. Finally, this paper introduces the system governance theory and improves organizational isomorphism theory to further generalize the existing research framework on greenwashing and provides an outlook on the future direction of greenwashing research from three perspectives: greening screening research, impact research and governance research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research sets out from the fact that advances in information technology in the current era or what is known as the industrial era 4.0. has brought major changes to occur in human life in the field of marketing, especially product promotion. The changes referred to include the convenience of business actors in promoting and disseminating product information so that it reaches consumers. However, sometimes marketing activities by business actors are not in accordance with proper ethics, both in terms of legal norms and the Koran values. This study aims to formulate the actualization of marketing ethics in the context and condition of today's society from the perspective of the Koran. This study applies a qualitative approach and belongs to library research. Based on this research, it is obtained that marketing ethics in the industrial era 4.0. currently has a very important position so that businessmen do not arbitrarily use advances in information technology by carrying out various ways that are not in accordance with regulations and the values ​​of the Koran. In addition, the actualization of marketing ethics from the Koran perspective as a response to the industrial era 4.0 can be done by spreading content of promotion based on piety and honesty, displaying sharia-compliant and gharar-less content, incubating local products into marketing management, and orienting the business to the merit goals.

This paper examines the knowledge constructs that professionals draw upon when engaging in marketing work. Our conceptual approach stems from a critical analysis of marketing work foregrounding the practitioners' professional knowledge and practice of marketing work. We identify 13 pertinent knowledge constructs-some of which are illustrated by vignettes-showcasing the shared and multifaceted nature of professional knowledge in a small- and medium-sized enterprise. By exploring how practitioners deploy their knowledge of marketing in practice, we conclude what the marketing discipline can learn from professional knowing. We contribute to the marketing work literature by considering the ontological role of professional knowing in dereifying marketing work from textbook knowledge along with its implications for the critical understanding of the perceived gap between marketing theorising and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, the authors offered a macro-level and normative based definition of Socially Responsible Marketing (SRM) that could serve as the basis for a doctrine of ethical, conscientious marketing. This essay offers a synthesis of ideas and further expands thinking on Socially Responsible Marketing, in reply to thoughtful comments shared by nine leading scholars invited by the Journal's editor to discuss "Toward a Doctrine of Socially Responsible Marketing (SRM): A Macro and Normative-Ethical Perspective". We are hopeful the ideas shared in this special section generate further discussions on broader, deeper and greater social responsibility in marketing, and reveal fresh opportunities for macromarketing research, teaching, policy, constructive engagement and professional practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent article by Laczniak and Shultz (2021), which appeared in the Journal of Macromarketing, conceptually explores a possible framework towards a doctrine of Socially Responsible Marketing (SRM). Using a normative versus positive and a macro versus micro approach the article lays the intellectual groundwork for a meaningful definition of and roadmap towards SRM. The definition is broad enough to withstand the ever-changing economic, political and ideological conditions of a society and specific enough to be meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a commentary on the macro and normative-ethical definition of socially responsible marketing proposed by Laczniak and Shultz (2021) from the perspective of marketing in impoverished markets. It considers the three dimensions of "marketing to", "marketing with", and "marketing for" impoverished populations. While the definition proposed by Laczniak & Shultz is broad and all-encompassing, a major limitation is in the elaboration of social sustainability. As social and ecological sustainability is proposed as an essential element of the definition, the scant attention paid to social sustainability is a major lacuna in the definitional construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the possibility of using the principles of personalism and utilitarianism in business ethics and marketing ethics. The author answers the question: Why should we first choose personalism, and not utilitarianism? The main thesis of this article is that for business ethics and marketing ethics the personalistic norm of morality is more appropriate than the utilitarian standard of morality. The article aims: (1) at assessing the utilitarian standard of morality used in business and marketing ethics; (2) at introducing the concept of business ethics and marketing ethics based on the assumptions of personalism

Brands are widely regarded as a constellation of shared associations surrounding a company and its offerings. On the traditional view of brands, these associations are regarded as perceptions and attitudes in consumers' minds in relation to a company. We argue that this traditional framing of brands faces an explanatory problem: the inability to satisfactorily explain why certain branding activism initiatives elicit the moralized reactive attitudes that are paradigmatic responses to wrongdoing. In this paper, we argue for a reframing of brands that calls for viewing brands as a series of normatively binding expectations that are ethically akin to promises. Our promissory framing of brands avoids the explanatory problem, illuminates a number of ethical requirements on branding, and reconceptualizes the role of brand managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to investigate the impact of competitor orientation (CO) on SMEs' performance in the manufacturing sector in Saudi Arabia. As well as to demonstrate how marketing ethics (ME) moderates this important relationship. Based on a sample of 408 Saudi manufacturing SMEs, and by PLS-SEM, the links in the proposed model were investigated. The obtained results revealed that actually, CO positively affects SMEs' performance; more importantly, this effect is conditioned by ME. The findings of this study provide advantageous insights for managers and decision-makers for SMEs, as it is expected that they demonstrate a greater commitment to practicing ME in their firms. This has ramifications in that, with the practice of ME, it is predicted that SMEs will be able to fully exploit the potential of CO to increase their overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document aims to conduct a literature review in order to identify evolution and research trends in the area of neuromarketing end marketing ethics. The fact of deep systemic crisis of the modern civilization has been discussed by politicians, scientists and philosophers for at least last fifty years. Since then, more than forty of them have been published, that was base for the scientific thought development towards the formation of the concept of sustainable development of mankind. Self-healing changes are extremely slow, despite the enormous efforts of scientists, politicians and public figures. This is partly caused by the fact that in modern politics and economics the neuroscience achievements are used widely but these achievements are applied for narrowly selfish purposes that contradict the main goals and objectives of the concept of sustainable development. Therefore, it is relevant to turn to the analysis of a relatively new direction in modern economic science – neuromarketing, which is gaining the more influence in the society and is actively developing in use. As the world history experience shows, the most important prerequisite for the new civilization formation is a radical transformation of the spiritual (value-semantic) sphere of life. In turn, such transformation is unthinkable without the philosophical project of reconstruction and neoholism, the fundamental value of which is the eidos of harmony, can become such a project. In the modern world dominates the ideology of consumption, the products of which are the presence of fashion, wastefulness, profit orientation in decision making, etc. Consumption is the act of receiving goods or services. Overconsumption (or irrational consumption) that dominates in the world and is imposed by the entire marketing system is the phenomenon of receiving goods and services more than need – to a greater extent than a person needs. This is a dead end, because of which the entire system is going through a deep crisis. Some scientists believe that the way out of the crisis is possible through the interaction of science and economics, or rather neurosciences and economics, which leads to overconsumption of goods and services, which means the growth of incomes of large and medium-sized capital. Others see the way out in the new thinking development, a new philosophical paradigm, which must be introduced into the mass consciousness by means of education, thereby raising the level of consciousness and expanding the potential of a person. The most famous firms that have used neuromarketing techniques to achieve their goals are Coca-Cola, General Motors, Google Mars, Nestle and many other corporations. It is important to mention that the neuromarketing cost is increasing every year, for example, in 2015 the United States spent $25 billion on neuromarketing research. At the present stage, there are three main research methods in neuromarketing: electrical activity of the brain (EEG), oculography (eye movement, eye tracking) and analysis of facial expressions and non-verbal gestures. For example, in the evaluation process of the TV commercials effectiveness, specialists monitor the eyes and determine the speed of pupil movement. Analyzing the above, it can be argued that neuromarketing in the modern world is one of the leading and promising technologies for the society influencing. It is possible that its potential has not yet been fully formed and studied, but these studies are the highly paid item of expenditure in the large corporations.

This article highlights the principles and implementation of Islamic banking marketing ethics. Ethics based on sharia principles are an essential differentiator from their competitors. It begins from the 4 P's marketing mix framework, namely product, price, promotion, and place. This article is qualitative descriptive research using literature review. This article employs secondary data from 11 articles. The data that has been collected then analyzed with descriptive information. Therefore, through 4 P's marketing mix lens, this article finds a lack of ethical marketing practices in Islamic Banking from the ethical ideals espoused in the literature. This study analyzes the ethical marketing practices of Islamic banks which can be used as an evaluation of policies in the Islamic financial industry.

For decades, much leading marketing and business ethics literature has insisted that marketers accept a social responsibility or heed a social conscience beyond the practice of profitable customer satisfaction. Professional observers apparently feel that the traditional institution of marketing generally falls short of optimal contribution to societal welfare. The following essay challenges that fashionable posture by suggesting how such criticism is misdirected. Argued is that the socially responsible marketing "conscience" orientation is naïve, superfluous, incoherent, and ultimately dysfunctional for its intended beneficiaries. This contrarian position is not entirely new, as readers will recognize, yet has been incessantly resisted in the academic and philosophical marketplace for ideas—i.e., has not enjoyed widespread scholarly adoption or market penetration. Perhaps this outcome accrues not from the idea-product itself but from its poor representation or deficient marketing. Therefore, this paper attempts to mitigate any such impediments, especially the packaging, positioning, and communication elements. The revised expository approach involves, in particular, decomposing the established social responsibility construct to spotlight its flawed nature. A possible intersection with conventional marketing ethics is also addressed, and an inventory of potential counterarguments to the paper's view is developed and dispatched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary presents a reply to the Gaski paper that is published in this issue. Our stance is that he overstates his position and makes several 'leaps of faith' that are unwarranted. We focus on four major reservations about this work: (1) the dynamics of ethics and regulation are underrepresented; (2) simplistic assumptions are made about the uncertainty of ethical claims and theories; (3) responsibility is considered as an all or nothing proposition; and (4) empirical claims are offered that are not backed up with evidence and bad faith is displayed in presenting 'real world' examples. We conclude by stating that corporations have already institutionalized ethics and corporate social responsibility functions within their firms. We firmly believe that responsible marketers do have a conscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the interaction effect of country-level aggregate advertising spending and internet access on women's development. We explain why this interaction effect either enhances or discourages women's development. Our empirical analysis of aggregate advertising spending across forty-eight countries over five years uncovers a conditional effect. Advertising may have adverse consequences on women's development when internet access is low. However, in conjunction with high levels of internet access, advertising corresponds to advancing women's development. Through an experimental study, we show one possible mechanism for this development: on one hand, the growing trend of femvertising produces comments supportive of women's empowerment. On the other, stereotypically-sexist ads elicit psychological reactance to objectifying messages. Both the celebration of messaging that supports women and the criticism of sexist stereotyping are now being widely shared online. To explore this phenomenon globally, we conducted a qualitative analysis of social media responses to Dove ads aired within multiple countries. We find that consumers amplified empowering advertisements across a range of different cultural contexts. These findings have implications for advertisers, marketers, and policy makers: such constituencies should consider how advertising can facilitate women's development by providing marketplace conditions that promote personal evolution into unattained-but-attainable versions of the self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a marketing ethics analysis that addresses the practice of selling genetic tests (GT) directly to the consumer (DTC). It details the complexity of this emergent sector by articulating the panoply of evolving ethical/social questions raised by this development. It advances the conversation about DTC genetic testing by reviewing the business and healthcare literature concerning this topic and by laying out the inherent ethical complications for consumers, marketers, and regulators. It also points to several possible public and company policy adjustments. Because this area is relatively new and incredibly dynamic, its current discussion is necessarily an exercise in the "logic of discovery" rather than the "protocol of validation". The paper serves as a primer for the types of GT being promoted. It also calls for a public discourse in the academic and general community to uncover and define the ethical guidelines and systemic adjustments necessary to create fairness in the various DTC transactions occurring between genetic test sellers and the buyers/clients of their services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical industry marketers are confronted with specific ethical issues linked to the tension between the economic interest being pursued and the health mission of this sector. Indeed this dual mission could be problematic for them when the two objectives contradict each other. We use the concept of moral dissonance to examine how marketers in the pharmaceutical industry perceive the profit/health tension inherent in their sector and how they deal with it. Based on narratives of 18 marketers working in the pharmaceutical sector, our qualitative study identifies ethical conflicts of varying intensity that generate differing degrees of moral dissonance among marketers. To cope with this moral dissonance, they use the following strategies: (1) minimize the sensitivity of their activity; (2) invoke the benefits to patients; and (3) avoid behaviors that conflict with their values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]