Business Ethics

Business Ethics

Book cover for "The Hypocrisy Trap" by Michael Hallsworth, featuring a blue pattern of interlocking hands forming fists, with a subtitle about improving lives by changing criticism and understanding the influence of hypocrites.
In this excerpt from "The Hypocrisy Trap," Michael Hallsworth explains why accusations of hypocrisy don’t always damage credibility.
A man with a beard wearing a light green sweater and a dark green baseball cap backward, smiling with a neutral background.
Members
Gary Vaynerchuk, known as Gary Vee, challenges the notion that professional success must be a choice between financial gain and positive impact, emphasizing that caring for customers and employees can be central to entrepreneurship and legacy-building.
A triangle labeled "The Fraud Triangle" with its three sides named Incentive, Opportunity, and Rationalization, on an orange background.
32mins
“Fraud is a trillion dollar problem, about $5 trillion today with that number increasingly rising annually.”
A man speaking into a microphone, an illustration of a person with a bun near Japanese text, and Kevin Kelly, a bearded man, are overlaid with red geometric shapes under the title "THE NIGHT CRAWLER.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
An older man sits on a chair in front of a white backdrop, surrounded by rows of hanging beef carcasses in a meat processing facility.
1hr 55mins
“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about reducing suffering where we can, and right now, we’re choosing not to.”
The letters "AI" appear with a glitch effect in multicolored pixels against a black background.
The cognitive scientist argues the current AI environment is failing us as consumers and a society. But it’s not too late to change course.
A hand with emotional intelligence dials a vintage rotary telephone, its coiled cord adding to the nostalgia of the black-and-white scene.
Encouraging thoughtful responses over impulsive reactions can help prevent AI exploitation in decision-making.
Yellow book cover titled "Consider the Turkey" by Peter Singer, featuring a red illustration of a turkey—perfect for Thanksgiving reading.
Philosopher Peter Singer argues it's time to examine a morally dubious practice.
A rabbit on grass above a tortoise on sand, with graph-like lines in the background, symbolizes long-term thinking.
Businesses are realizing that rapid disruption without stability can lead to long-term failure. A new era of thoughtful, sustainable growth is emerging.
Three historical figures in a collage: on the left and right, black and white sketches of two different men; in the center, a blue-toned image of a statue of a seated, thinking person—a perfect visual encapsulation of philosophy for leaders.
Three of the greatest moral philosophers — Bentham, Kant and Aristotle — offer invaluable and practical lessons for leaders today.
A collaged image featuring a partial American flag, a tip jar with coins, a percentage-tipping selection panel, a man's face making an awkward expression, and a close-up of striped fabric.
Why do we tip waitstaff and cabdrivers but not flight attendants and retail clerks?
Open book showing a hand planting a small green plant on the right page, symbolizing restoration, and a bold black squiggly arrow on a yellow background on the left page, illustrating the dynamic flow of networking.
Mark Weinstein outlines a new path for social media that protects, respects, and empowers the regular users.
Two elderly men in glasses smiling. One man wears a white shirt and the other a suit and tie. The background features a blue book cover titled "Business Adventures," symbolizing their connection through timeless business wisdom.
"Business Adventures" by John Brooks was first published in 1969 and remains a must-read for all CEOs.
Black and white image of a band performing on stage. One musician is playing a bass guitar while another sings into a microphone. The scene, embodying punk-inspired leaders, has a dark background.
Half a century ago, idealistic punks shook a fist at the status quo — and their legacy is a blueprint for modern leadership.
Skyline of a city with tall skyscrapers emerging above a thick layer of fog on a clear day, including one exceptionally tall building towering over the tallest buildings.
Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower is poised to become the world’s tallest building. What’s behind the century-plus drive to build ever taller skyscrapers?
Implanting machine components into human bodies, argues one scholar, could make for a better society.
Two men in suits standing next to each other, discussing fraud.
8mins
Fraud is a $5 trillion “industry.” But not all its perpetrators look alike. Kelly Richmond Pope, a professor of accounting, breaks down who commits fraud — and why.
A painting of a group of men examining a cadaver
"Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief, and Knox the man who buys the beef." Read the story of 19th-century Scotland's corpse dealers.
A Japanese painting portraying a bushido woman wielding a sword.
According to bushido, your life is of secondary importance to key virtues, like honor, loyalty, and justice.
A man in a tie is holding a tissue to his face.
4mins
Kelly Richmond Pope, a forensic accountant, shares a simple test that puts your ethics under the spotlight.
A silhouette of a man holding up a newspaper, inspired by Dan Ariely.
Big Think covered the 2012 study shortly after it was published. We are now correcting the record.
A snake is sitting on top of a dollar bill.
7mins
Forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope explains how fraud runs rampant — even when businesses don’t intend it.
A monochromatic image capturing a silver ring.
With U.S. infrastructure crumbling, an honor oath and iron ring remind engineers of their profession's ethical weight.
The restoration of public confidence is crucial for strong democratic governance around the world.
Within the "Dark Triad" of personality traits, narcissism exists on a confidence spectrum.
needs analysis
Conducting a thorough needs analysis requires care, curiosity, and open-mindedness.
war technology
The U.S. military once used Google’s tech without their employees knowing. Anna Butrico explains the complicated history behind “Project Maven.”
When you hold yourself financially accountable, you’re likely to gain more than just some extra money.
Million Stories
ethics training for employees
82% of professionals say they'd take a lower-paying job to work for an organization with more ethical business practices. This is just one of the reasons to offer ethics training for employees.