The FT50’s ethics problem: what the removal of Journal of Business Ethics means for management research

Abstract

Late April 2026, the Financial Times (FT) introduced a major revision to its influential FT50 journal list by removing Journal of Business Ethics, alongside Human Relations and Organization Studies. The decision generated significant controversy within the management and business research community because it effectively eliminated the only dedicated outlet focusing specifically on corporate responsibility, ethics, and sustainability from the FT50 ranking system. This paper examines the symbolic and institutional implications of this removal for research evaluation, academic incentives, and the future of responsible management scholarship. The paper argues that the decision risks reinforcing a narrow conception of scholarly excellence centered primarily on mainstream managerial and economic performance metrics while marginalizing research addressing ethics, sustainability, and societal impact. Given the recency of the revision, these implications are considered potential rather than demonstrated effects. The paper concludes by discussing the broader tensions between journal rankings, responsible research movements, and the evolving social expectations surrounding business schools and management scholarship.