In the name of human value. Religion and ethics in the business world

Precariousness concerns not only the workers themselves but also employers. In times of economic growth, business owners focus on expanding their companies and their opportunities, often becoming indifferent to social issues, unemployment, and employee precariousness. However, for some managers in various national contexts, the issue of business ethics, frequently linked to religious beliefs, remains significant even in periods of growth, revealing a shared ambivalence towards economic individualism. Within the framework of a historiography in full renewal that explores business ethics or the pursuit of “ethical capitalism,” this chapter highlights the leaders and companies who, in Japan or France during the Trente Glorieuses or contemporary China, question their place in society and how they can reconcile religious faith and practice with economic activity.