The Cambridge Business and Society Research Group aims to provide an interdisciplinary forum for researchers investigating the cultures of capitalism and the social and ethical dimensions of organizations, business, and economics.

The increasing spread of market logics into social life has heightened the importance of the University in investigating the knowledge-practices, legal forms, historical trajectories, contestations, and impacts involved. Pressing challenges such as climate change, ongoing inequalities within and between nations, and the role of corporations within democratic polities, have made paradigms, concepts, and methods from the humanities and the social sciences of increasing relevance for studying the interactions between the commercial, political, and civil spheres. The rising material aspirations of citizens worldwide, the currently unfolding global credit crisis, inflating commodity and food prices, and the urgency of addressing the environmental footprint of “developed” country consumption patterns, has put a new focus on bringing areas which usually remain within the traditional domain of business studies and economics, into fruitful dialogue with the wider humanities, sciences, and social sciences. In order to facilitate disciplinary innovation in dealing with these issues the group will offer a venue for researchers from across Cambridge University to meet regularly, exchange views and present and discuss aspects of their work.

For the academic year 2009/10, we will investigate questions around the theme "Worth, Value and Valuation"

We hold regular research meetings at CRASSH alternate  Wednesdays in term (2.30-4.30pm). These meetings aim at exploring questions around this year's theme "Worth, Value and Valuation" from different theoretical and disciplinary perspectives. In each session, one or two researchers make short (15 min) presentations relating to their research and the theme of the meeting. To allow for in-depth exploration of theoretical and empirical questions, we will hold both theory and topic focused meetings.  Refreshments provided

Film Nights
Film nights, held at the Graduate Union, make use of the artistic medium of film to inspire further reflections on the intersection of Business & Society. Again, we hope to inspire lively discussions facilitated through moderated after-film debates!

One-Day workshops
One-Day workshops provide an extended forum to continue the debates from the meetings and put these debates into the context of a topical research question. Following the interdisciplinary mission of CRASSH, they also invite new participants from different disciplines as well as practitioners. Please check the term programme for more information."