L'Etica come risorsa economica: Prospettiva storica e riscontri empirici nel tessuto imprenditoriale campano

This doctoral thesis investigates the relationship between ethics and economics through an integrated historical, theoretical, and empirical approach. The primary objective is twofold: to demonstrate that business ethics is a constitutive driver of competitiveness rather than an external constraint, and to empirically verify this assumption within the territory of Campania (Italy). Focusing on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the research argues that geographic proximity and social capital foster distinct and authentic forms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The theoretical framework departs from mainstream Anglo-Saxon paradigms, anchoring itself instead in the 18th-century Italian and Spanish Enlightenment. Central to this analysis is the concept of the "just price" (iustum pretium) and the Neapolitan Civil Economy paradigm. By opposing the neoclassical vision of a morally neutral market, this perspective conceptualizes the economic sphere as a relational space rooted in distributive equity, reciprocity, and the common good. The study is articulated in four chapters. The first traces the historical genealogy of the just price and the Civil Economy. The second analyzes the evolution of modern economic thought, highlighting the Italian tradition of ethical entrepreneurship exemplified by Adriano Olivetti's industrial humanism. The third chapter explores the strategic nexus between territory, social capital, and SME competitiveness, illustrating how local districts informally incentivize ethical behavior. Finally, the empirical core investigates four leading agro-food family businesses rooted in Campania (Strega Alberti, De Matteis Agroalimentare, Acetificio De Nigris, Pastificio Rummo). Ultimately, the findings demonstrate that integrating market success, social responsibility, and territorial heritage is a viable, highly competitive development model, offering a resilient and virtuous perspective on the economic dynamics of Southern Italy.