Catholic social teaching and ethical entrepreneurship in the Philippines: Integrating human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity in business innovation

Department/Unit

Vice President for Lasallian Mission

Document Type

Article

Source Title

International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research

Volume

8

Issue

3

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Entrepreneurship plays a central role in economic development, innovation, and employment generation. At the same time, entrepreneurial activity raises important ethical questions related to labor practices, social inequality, and environmental sustainability. As economies increasingly emphasize innovation- driven growth, scholars in business ethics have called for normative frameworks that guide entrepreneurial

decision-making toward socially responsible outcomes. This study examines the relevance of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) as a moral framework for ethical entrepreneurship and business innovation in the Philippine context. Drawing on the core CST principles of human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity, the paper develops a conceptual framework that links theological ethics with contemporary discussions on entrepreneurship, sustainability, and inclusive economic development. Using conceptual analysis and interdisciplinary literature review, the study argues that CST provides a normative foundation for reimagining entrepreneurship as a vocation oriented toward human flourishing and the common good. The study further situates this framework within the Philippine socio-cultural context, highlighting how Filipino cultural values such as bayanihan, malasakit, and pakikipagkapwa reinforce ethical orientations toward entrepreneurial leadership. By integrating theological ethics with entrepreneurship scholarship, the paper contributes to interdisciplinary debates on responsible innovation and sustainable development, particularly in relation to Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9.

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Disciplines

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

Keywords

Entrepreneurship—Religious aspects

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