Knowledge Ethics for the Knowledge Economy

An extensive legal, moral, and ethical infrastructure supports business transactions and economic values in the industrial economy. This infrastructure is grounded in the concept of tangible property, its production and consumption. Today we have a deeper understanding of the nature of knowledge and its unique economic properties and behaviours. We now understand that a reinterpretation is needed to ensure that healthy and trusted economic knowledge markets exist. Knowledge Ethics for the Knowledge Economy explores whether an extension or a redefinition of the legal, moral, and ethical infrastructure is needed. The authors review the fundamental assumptions of tangible property markets and transactions and test their applicability to intangible assets. Given the new properties and principles of the knowledge economy, there is a need to re-examine these properties and principles. This guide provides a proactive and forward-looking perspective for managers to adapt and shape to suit their work environments.