Some call it a winner-take-all opportunity. Others call it the exploitation of scarcity in its most extreme form. This program challenges big business's alarming rush to commodify the world's common resources-things as basic to life as drinkable water and human genes. Proponents of the common good square off against promoters of "business as usual," speaking out on controversial issues including exporting water from Canada, creating hybrid crop seeds...

This NewsHour program scrutinizes the state of business ethics in an America riddled with financial fraud. In segment one, correspondent Paul Solman and Columbia Business School's Barbara Toffler cite Arthur Andersen and Stew Leonard, Sr., as examples of ethics gone awry. Segment two gathers the opinions of veteran business journalists Adam Smith, Carol Loomis, Allan Sloan, Jim Grant, and Andrew Tobias on the practices of Enron, Tyco, Morgan Stanley,...

For decades, experts have hailed microcredit as the paramount solution to global poverty. But there is a lesser-known version of that story in which Grameen Bank founder Mohammad Yunus and other promoters of miniaturized finance appear to serve mostly their own interests. Bringing to light a range of potentially unethical practices and policies, this program explores the microcredit system that has been implemented across much of the developing world....

The old saying about imitation and flattery is of little consolation when forged products wreak havoc on consumers. Merchants and manufacturers suffer too, as the global traffic in counterfeit goods bypasses most honest forms of business. This program follows investigators as they track the flow of fake name-brand items around the world. Filmed in Asia, Africa, and Europe, the video shows how worthless or low-quality knockoffs are disguised as legitimate...

What forms the bedrock of America's wealth? Home ownership? Small businesses? Wall Street? This program lays out an entirely different economic conception, pointing to the vast amount of unpaid labor and services that keep the rest of society afloat. Riane Eisler, author of The Real Wealth of Nations, analyzes the significance of volunteer work, medical support provided by family members, and other hidden or uncompensated labor. Activist Vandana Shiva...

This program travels to tea estates in Sri Lanka, Kenya, India, and Bangladesh-some traditional, some fair trade-to expose unsafe work environments and labor exploitation. Finding little meaningful difference between fair trade and non-fair trade operations, questions arise: Are fair trade organizations such as the E.U.'s Max Havelaar Foundation being duped by tea growers? Or are growers doing the best they can in a brutal industry and a market that...

Can global corporations remain profitable while also fostering social consciousness, environmental stewardship, and respect for local laws? This program explains why that is not only possible but necessary in the age of international business. Corporate accountability guru Dr. Simon Zadek describes what it means for powerful companies to behave conscientiously, while Profits with Principles coauthor Jane Nelson discusses the UN Global Compact concerning...

Every year, more people learn about the Fairtrade organization and buy Fairtrade-approved products. What are the benefits of Fairtrade certification and how does the system work? This program explains, using case studies of Fairtrade's activities and interviews with individuals involved in the organization. Viewers learn about the meanings behind the Fairtrade label, how the Fairtrade premium is determined and applied to pricing, and how the group...

Businesses across the globe are embracing an environmentally sensitive approach-not only to maintain credibility and protect the bottom line, but also to attract the best employees. This program explores policies, work habits, and advantages often found in green workplaces. Highlighting the overlap between environmental and corporate culture, the video introduces business leaders and sustainability experts who discuss eco-friendly strategies, best...

Women are still rare at the top rung of the banking industry, both in the West and in the Islamic world. However, a number of Malaysia's Sharia-compliant financial companies offer excellent examples of the glass ceiling cracking. This program follows women who specialize in Islamic finance while forging careers which, in many ways, resemble those of Western career women. Fozia Amanulla discusses her goals and responsibilities as CEO of EON Cap Islamic...