Research and teaching activities in economics and business management are specific not only in scientific terms but also in ideological terms. This political aspect has to be discussed openly. As an example, our interpretations of Sustainable Development (SD) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is closely related to our ideological orientations. In considering more radical changes towards SD, the three levels of theory of science, paradigms in economics and ideological orientation have to be involved. Positivism, neoclassical economics and neo-liberalism support the present institutional framework and globalization trend. Alternative perspectives at all three levels may open the door for a different set of institutions. While all these types of perspectives are essential, paradigms in economics play a central role. Alternatives to Economic Man, profit-maximizing firms, markets understood in terms of supply and demand and Cost-Benefit analysis are therefore proposed.
The editor of this proceedings volume is Tarja Ketola