In his lecture on ethical entrepreneurship, Alexander Wagner discusses what motivates companies to remain honest. The economist states that one in seven major listed companies commits fraud in the United States. However, this also means that the other six are honest companies.
The lecture on ethical entrepreneurship describes two views on behavior as outlined by philosophers. First, there is self-interest as defined by Adam Smith. This involves weighing the consequences and weighing the benefits and costs. This type of behavior is reflected in companies’ codes of conduct and incentives. It also argues that reputation is a powerful economic force. On the other hand, Emmanuel Kant maintains notions of morality where some things are right and some are wrong. This perspective views behavior as motivated by values.
