Business Government and Ethics

Below are five general essay questions covering various broad topics we have covered during the semester.  You are to pick ANY THREE of these questions to answer.  Write as much as you can, include EVERY relevant aspect you think is appropriate to the topic, and be as organized and complete as possible.  You will be graded based on your comprehension of the topic, your articulation, and organization of your thoughts, and on your objectivity in analyzing all aspects of the issue.  I would suggest you spend 10 minutes or so organizing your thoughts before you start writing.  Good luck.
 
Question1)  We have discussed many cases in class, many of which deal with what we would today call socially irresponsible behavior by businesses and their management.  Compare and contrast the lessons learned from each of these cases.  Explain how each of them has contributed to our system of business regulation today.  What do you think is the proper balance between controlling irresponsible businesses in an effort to protect stakeholders, and allowing businesses the freedom necessary to create products and make a profit?
Question 2) In the chapter about Critics of Business, the author mentions many reasons why people belong to this group.  Please explain some of those reasons; which of the 4 major models they tend to believe in; name some of the historical philosophers and thinkers who support this group; how populists and progressives influenced the business climate of the USA; and how the failures of capitalism have influenced our regulatory environment today.
 
Question 3) Explain the classic conflict between the needs of MNCs and host countries.  How can this gulf be bridged?  What are some of the characteristics necessary in top management to successfully run an MNCs international operations?  In your opinion, have NAFTA, the EU, GATT, and the WTO, and other efforts at reducing trade barriers worked?  What do you see for the future, especially in light of globalization and the fact that such disharmony exists in how each country regulates its businesses?
 
Question 4) With respect to protecting the environment, the U.S. Government, through the Environmental Protection Agency, has limited the ability of businesses to pollute water, air or land in order to protect human life.  Discuss the evolution of this type of regulation, how the government determines acceptable levels of pollution, and how it assesses and manages environmental risk.  In your opinion, are cost-benefit analyses meritorious?  What is your opinion about command and control regulations versus market incentives (including emissions swapping)?  Why are other countries so opposed to this idea?
 
Question 5) Discuss Consumerism as both a movement to protect consumers and an ideology.  What factors have given rise to the growth of consumerism?  Why has the government had such an increase in consumer legislation and regulatory agencies? What are the good and bad aspects of this?  How has consumerism changed our society and culture?  In your opinion, what are the most important consumer-related agencies of the federal government?  Why?