This book examines the impact of multinational enterprises (MNEs) on local economies, and presents selected case studies of MNEs operating in low income countries. By balancing external social and environmental costs against its corresponding benefits, the book demonstrates that MNEs can have a positive net-impact on local development if they build up social capital by embedding themselves in local economies and engaging responsibly with local stakeholders. By doing so MNEs contribute to inclusive growth, a central pillar of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, the book challenges popular narratives in civil society and academia that frame foreign direct investment (FDI) merely as a threat to human rights and sustainable development. Moreover, it offers practical guidance for globally operating businesses seeking to establish progressive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies of their own.

This book addresses the ability of market-based instruments to improve the sustainable provision of environmental services. The author combines field research and insights from the multi-stakeholder dialogue at the FAO to analyze the gap between the predictions provided by theory and the corresponding outcomes in practice. In particular, the author challenges the theory behind Payments for Environmental Services (PES), a concept derived from neoclassical welfare economics, by demonstrating that PES projects often lack financial sustainability unless local entrepreneurs make use of the resulting new networks to create innovative markets for environmental goods. The author calls for a shift of focus from regulation to innovation in projects and policies designed to improve the provision of environmental services. Its spotlight on the positive social impacts of companies that engage in hybrid PES schemes will make the book appealing to practitioners and policymakers alike.

The introduction of new technologies can be controversial, especially when they create ethical tensions as well as winners and losers among stakeholders and interest groups. While ethical tensions resulting from the genetic modification of crops and plants and their supportive gene technologies have been apparent for decades, persistent challenges remain. This book explores the contemporary nature, type, extent and implications of ethical tensions resulting from agricultural biotechnology specifically and technology generally. There are four main arenas of ethical tensions: public opinion, policy and regulation, technology as solutions to problems, and older versus new technologies. Contributions focus on one or more of these arenas by identifying the ethical tensions technology creates and articulating emerging fault lines and, where possible, viable solutions. Key features include: Focusing on contemporary challenges created by new and emerging technologies, especially agricultural biotechnology. Identifying a unique perspective by considering the problem of ethical tensions created or enhanced by new technologies. Providing an interdisciplinary perspective by including perspectives from sociologists, economists, philosophers and other social scientists. This book will be of interest to academics in agricultural economics, sociology and philosophy and policymakers concerned with introducing new technology into agriculture.

German description: Unser moralisches Empfinden ist von den Emotionen Gluck und Angst gepragt. Sie gelten gar als Motor moralischen Handelns. Doch in unserer Gesellschaft herrscht nach wie vor eine strikte Trennung von Eigeninteresse und Moral. Wahrend Freiheit und Autonomie gepriesen werden, sollen wir in erster Linie Gefuhle vertreten, die nicht unsere eigenen sind. Das vergrossert die Kluft zwischen Sein und Schein. Experimentelle Forschung im Grenzbereich von Moralpsychologie, Neurowissenschaften und Verhaltensokonomie wie auch neuere Erkenntnisse aus den interdisziplinaren Geistes- und insbesondere Religionswissenschaften lassen ein neues Bild des Menschen entstehen. Es hat wenig mit dem eines rationalen und an Idealvorstellungen orientierten Entscheidungsfinders zu tun, wie es bisher in Okonomie und Ethik dominiert hat. Demnach gibt es weder den Menschen, der ausschliesslich an kurzfristiger und rein materieller Nutzenmaximierung interessiert ist, noch gibt es den komplett uneigennutzigen Typus, der immer nur an das Wohl der Allgemeinheit denkt. Mit einem Interview mit dem israelischen Historiker Shlomo Sand (Die Erfindung des judischen Volkes).