The Ethical and Unethical Background of Advertising Practice
This paper highlights the dual nature of advertising: while its purpose is to increase sales and profit, some practices within it can be unethical. Ethical advertising practices build trust, enhance reputation, and foster long-term customer relationships, leading to loyalty and sustained success. Despite the pervasive influence of advertising on consumer behaviour, it's crucial to critically evaluate messages to make informed choices. Manipulative tactics in advertising can be subtle, requiring consumers to develop discernment to protect against impulsive decisions. Additionally, in a society promoting excessive consumption, being mindful of its impact on individuals and the environment is vital. Cultivating responsible consumption habits can lead to a more balanced life and mitigate negative societal and environmental effects.
© 2024 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Barbu, C. M., & Negulescu, M. C. (2024). The Ethical and Unethical Background of Advertising Practice. Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, Volume XIX, Spring, Issue 1(83), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.57017/jaes.v19.1(83).05
[1] Achim, M. I. (2014). Morality, immorality and amorality concerning the communication in advertising, Buletin Stiintific, seria A, Fascicula Filologie, XXIII/2014, U. T. Press,
[2] Applbaum, K. (2006). Pharmaceutical Marketing and the Invention of the Medical Consumer. PLoS Med 3(4): e189. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030189
[3] Attas, D. (1999). What's Wrong with "Deceptive" Advertising? Journal of Business Ethics, 21, 49–59 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005985723779
[4] Cojocari, E. (2010). Advertising and its role in the development of the market economy, (in Romanian Publicitatea (reclama) și rolul ei în dezvoltarea economiei de piață), Revista Națională de Drept, Nr. 5-6, pp. 46-55.
[5] Cosma, Gh. (1980). Romanian Poster, (in Romanian. Afișul Românesc), Meridiane Press, Bucharest, ISBN/COD: AADRCC
[6] Cousins, C. (2009). Pharmaceutical marketing: the unethical reform of an industry. Student Research Publication. Volume 1, Number 2. Gatton College of Business & Economics, University of Kentucky. https://www.academia.edu/1773418/Pharmaceutical_Marketing_The_Unethical_Reform_of_an_Industry
[7] Dura, C. (2017). Volkswagen Emissions Scandal - a Case Study on Unethical Business Practices, Annals of the University of Petroşani, Economics, 17(2), 2017, 69-78.
[8] Greene, J. A., Podolsky, S. H. (2009). Keeping modern in medicine: pharmaceutical promotion and physician education in post-war America, Bulletin of the History of Medicine,Vol. 83, No. 2 (Summer 2009), Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
[9] Halamata, A. N. (2013). Ethics in Advertisement and Its Impact on Women and Children. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, Volume 2 Issue 6, June. 2013. [online] [accessed 18.03.2024]. https://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol(2)6/Version-2/A02620104.pdf
[10] Molina, M. D., et al. (2019). ”Fake News” Is Not Simply False Information: A Concept Explication and Taxonomy of Online Content, American Behavioral Scientist, Volume 65, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764219878224
[11] Nicola, M., Petre, D. (2001). Advertising, (in Romanian Publicitate), București,
[12] Osedlov, I., Ţurcan, G. (2021). Moral Aspects of Advertising, (In Romanian, Simpozion ştiinţific al tinerilor cercetători), 19th Edition, Volume 3, 2021.
[13] Petcu, M. (2002). An Illustrated History of Advertising, (in Romanian O Istorie Ilustrată a Publicității), Tritonic Press. ISBN 973-8497-05-8.
[14] Petcu, M. (2007). The History of Journalism and Advertising in Romania, (in Romanian Istoria jurnalismului și a publicității în România), Polirom Press. ISBN: 978-973-46-0788-4
[15] Petre, D., Nicola, M. (2009). Introduction to Advertising (in Romanian Introducere în publicitate), Comunicare.ro Press. ISBN 978-973-711-185-2
[16] Smith, N. (2012). Marketing Ethics, (in Romanian Etica Marketingului), SAGE, Los Angeles.
[17] Stoica, M. (2011). Elements of Advertising Psychology, (in Romanian Elemente de Psihologia Reclamei), Dimitrie Cantemir Press, Tg. Mureș.
[18] Tomșa, M. M. (2019-2020). Ethics in Marketing, Course Support, (in Romanian Etica în marketing, Suport de curs), Cluj Napoca.
[19] Williams, K. C. (2012). Improving fear appeal ethics. Journal of Academic and Business Ethics. 5, 46–69.
[20] Zinkhan, G. M. (1994). Advertising ethics: methods and emerging trends. Journal of Advertising, Volume 23, No. 3, Taylor & Francis, Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.1994.10673445
[21] Ziganshina, L. E., Niyazov, R. R. (2013). Unethical drug promotion by pharmaceutical industry as the main barrier to the rational use of medicines, Kazan Medical Journal, 94(2), 240-244. https://doi.org/10.17816/KMJ1596
*** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etica
*** https://dexonline.ro/definitie/etica
*** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publicitate
*** https://promotionalepestoc.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/un-scurt-istoric-al-publicitatii/
*** https://www.muzeulpublicitatii.ro/reclama-romaneasca-comunista
*** Declaration adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (Durban, 31 August - 8 September 2001).
*** https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/drtom2002&div=25&id=&page=
*** https://ivypanda.com/essays/mcdonalds-company-unethical-marketing-practices/
*** https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-dec-15-la-fi-mcdonalds-lawsuit-20101215-story.html