Generally, most firms practice proper business ethics but not a day goes by when we read an article about executives or companies business ethics being questioned. Some of the allegations include executives offering bribes to officials in third world countries to win lucrative infrastructure contract. Doing business in the developing world complicates matters as some of the business practices such as bribes are in many cases commonplace but are illegal in most developed nations. The ethics of charities raising money for veterans which end up collecting millions of dollars to help veterans, yet the majority of the money ends up in the pockets of the executives.These charities are preying on the goodness of donors to enrich themselves. This practice is deplorable and unethical, but in many cases these firms operate within the law. The financial crisis of 2008 saw banks, mortgage lenders, rating agencies and almost everyone else operate without any regards to ethics. It seemed that the entire economy was corrupt, and in the end resulted in the biggest economic meltdown ever. Most businesses are ethical but the drive to increase shareholder value or enrich one turns businesses and people to practice unethical practices primarily driven by greed.
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