The Open University Ethics Centre

Research

The following projects are being developed:

• External funding for a programme of research events and seminars, organised collaboratively between the OU and other interested parties, on the theme of Value and Emotion
• The Centre includes and supports outstanding individual researchers in ethics who publish in top academic journals and write best-selling books.

Research News

New research on ethical consumption

New research from a team led by the OU's Dr Clive Barnett suggests that the most effective campaigns to encourage ethical consumption are those that take place at a collective level, such as the creation of Fairtrade cities, rather than those targeting individual behaviour.

"For many people, their choice to buy ethical goods or services is shaped by both personal and public commitments," says Dr Barnett.

The research found that people often lack effective pathways to act on their concerns over organic food, environmental sustainability or third world sweatshops. According to Dr Barnett, the findings present a clear message: "If ethical consumption campaigns are to succeed, they need to transform the infrastructures of every day consumption rather than focusing on changing individual consumer behaviour".

The research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).