Antonio Argandoña is Professor of Economics and holder of the “la Caixa” Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance at IESE. He teaches mainly in the areas of macroeconomics, monetary economics and international economics, and publishes research on business ethics, corporate social responsibility and organizational governance.

An economist by training, Antonio Argandoña received his Ph.D. in Economics and Management (summa cum laude) from the University of Barcelona in 1969. He is a member of Spain’s Royal Academy of Economics and Finance (1999).

Antonio Argandoña is a member of the Advisory Board of the Catalan Finance Institute (ICF), chairman of the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee of the Economists Association of Catalonia, member of the Commission on Corporate Social Responsibility and Anti-Corruption of the Paris International Chamber of Commerce, member of the Arbitration Tribunal of Catalonia (TATC), and member of the Ethical Standards Committee of AENOR and of the Control and Transparency Commission of the FC Barcelona. He also serves on the ethics committees of various financial institutions, business associations and media, as well as on the editorial boards of Journal of Business Ethics, Business Ethics: A European Review, and Journal of International Business Education, among other scientific publications. In addition, he is director of IESE Insight and IESE Alumni Magazine.

His research activity was recognized in 2008 by the European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS) and the Aspen Institute for Business in Society, which granted him the Life Achievement Award for his fruitful career. He has also been acknowledged as the world’s third most prominent author in business ethics and CSR between 1999 and 2008 (K.C. Chan, H-G. Fung and J. Yan, “Business ethics research: a global perspective”, Journal of Business Ethics, 2009). In 2008, the Financial Studies Institute (IEF) awarded him the Prize for outstanding personal achievement in financial education.

He has published numerous books and articles on macroeconomics, monetary economics, the Spanish and international economy, business ethics and corporate social responsibility. His most recent scientific publications are:

  • “Responsible corporate governance: Towards a stakeholder board of directors?”, Corporate Ownership and Control, 6 (4), 2009, 9-19 (con S. Ayuso).
  • “Best practices in credit accessibility and corporate social responsibility in financial institutions”, Journal of Business Ethics, 87(Supplement 1), 2009, 251-265 (con F. Prior).
  • “Credit accessibility and corporate social responsibility in financial institutions: the case of microfinance”, Business Ethics: A European Review, 18(4), 2009, 349-363 (con F. Prior).
  • “Social responsibility and social security: The foundation of Caja de Pensiones  para la Vejez y de Ahorros”, Journal of Business Ethics, 89(Supplement 3), 2009, 319-332 (con C. M. Moreno y J. M. Solà).
  • “Corporate social responsibility in the first years of Caja de Pensiones para la Vejez y de Ahorros”, Journal of Business Ethics, 89(Supplement 3), 2009, 333-346 (con C. M. Moreno y J. M. Solà).
  • “Corporate Social Responsibility: One size does not fit all. Collecting evidence   from Europe”, Journal of Business Ethics, 89(Supplement 3). 2009, 221-234 (con H. von Weltzien-Hoivik).

Areas of interest

  • Macroeconomics, monetary economics and international economics
  • Theory of the firm
  • Ethics applied to the firm and to economics.
  • Corporate social responsibility

University studies

  • Ph.D. in Economics and Management, University of Barcelona, 1969 (summa cum laude).
  • Master’s degree in Politics, Economics and Business Studies, University of Barcelona, 1964.
  • General Management Program (PDG), IESE, University of Navarra, 1966.

Professional experience

 Antonio Argandoña is a professor in the Department of Economics at IESE, University of Navarra, and holds the “la Caixa” Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance. In the past, he has held various research and teaching posts at IESE (since 1963) and at the universities of Malaga (1977-79) and Barcelona (until 1989).

He is a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Business Ethics, Business Ethics: A European Review and Journal of International Business Education, director of IESE Insight and IESE Alumni Magazine, and co-founder and member of the editorial board of International Economic Overview. He has been director of the Department of Economics at IESE Business School (2008-2009) and editor of EBEN Spain’s Noticias de Ética, Economía y Dirección and of Papeles de Ética, Economía y Dirección.

He has been a member of the Executive Committee (1987-2006), Secretary General (1991-1999 and 2000-2003) and Associate Dean (2003-2006) of IESE.

Awards and distinctions

  •  Member, Royal Academy of Economics and Finance, Spain, 1999.
  • Silver medal of the University of Navarra, 1988
  • Member of Merit of the Economists Association of Catalonia, 2005.
  • Prize for the Promotion of Economic Literacy, 2005.
  • Finalist in the Faculty Pioneer Awards 2006, European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS) and Aspen Institute for Business in Society, 2006.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS) and Aspen Institute for Business in Society, 2008.
  • Prize for outstanding personal achievement in financial education, Financial Studies Institute (IEF), 2008.

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