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This impacts the entire citizenry, not just the think tank or its backers. Again, we reach the intersection between classical ethics philosophy and economics. Whether or not a think tank strives to eliminate bias from its published research, if that research influences public policy to the detriment of the populace, it would be considered unethical. Resnick (2007) promotes the idea that research ethics are important to maintain the trust of the public in such research. When considering the outcomes of published research, we must then consider whether an economic think tank bears any duty of care towards the populace at large.
It such a duty of care is not owed to the populace, to whom is it owed? This brings back the question of motivation. Basic motivation theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy discuss motivation in terms of human needs (NetMBA.com, 2007). Applied to an organization, we find the heart of the ethical quandary surrounding economic think tanks. Think tanks are motivated in part by their need to survive. Their existence depends on financial backing, provided by a variety of corporations.
According to Maslow, survival is the most basic need, and an organism will meet this need above all else. It is only when this need is met that the organization can meet other needs. This begs the question - does the organization's research meet the survival need implied by its financier relationships or does it meet the higher order needs that the organization claims to meet.
The question becomes complicated when one considers the role of the individual researcher. The think tank provided the basic...
Thus, the researcher is likely meeting a higher order need in the conduct of their research. The result of this is a conflict between the needs that the organization is meeting and the needs the researcher is meeting. By most definitions, these two needs sit at opposite sides of the economic spectrum.
Works Cited
Broome, John. (1999). Ethics out of Economics. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://books.google.com/books?id=Nj0nBRX8pVsC&dq=ethics+economics&printsec=frontcover&source=bll&ots=rk9IvUym0q&sig=l8-MdbqiVZBnqacBGm7Rs0Zsc6g&hl=en&ei=W82mSfz-H4H8tgfA7MHXDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=11&ct=result#PPA2,M1
Friedman, Milton. (1970). The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits. New York Times Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/libertarians/issues/friedman-soc-resp-business.html
Resnick, David B. (2007). What is Ethics in Research and Why is it Important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis.cfm
No author. (2007). Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. NetMBA.com. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/maslow/
Fetherling, George. (2008). In the Tank. The Walrus. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.walrusmagazine.com/print/2008.05-media-canadian-think-tank-george-fetherling
Works Cited
Broome, John. (1999). Ethics out of Economics. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://books.google.com/books?id=Nj0nBRX8pVsC&dq=ethics+economics&printsec=frontcover&source=bll&ots=rk9IvUym0q&sig=l8-MdbqiVZBnqacBGm7Rs0Zsc6g&hl=en&ei=W82mSfz-H4H8tgfA7MHXDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=11&ct=result#PPA2,M1
Friedman, Milton. (1970). The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits. New York Times Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/libertarians/issues/friedman-soc-resp-business.html
Resnick, David B. (2007). What is Ethics in Research and Why is it Important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis.cfm
No author. (2007). Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. NetMBA.com. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/maslow/
Fetherling, George. (2008). In the Tank. The Walrus. Retrieved February 26, 2009 at http://www.walrusmagazine.com/print/2008.05-media-canadian-think-tank-george-fetherling
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