天美传媒

, Robert C. McCormack Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance, and Charles M. Harper Faculty Fellow

This study investigates how individuals make business decisions when confronted with ethical considerations, focusing on the nature of the entity (e.g., a company or a charity) and the position of the decision-maker within the entity. We conduct a survey in which respondents are presented with a hypothetical scenario involving potential financial gains that come at an ethical cost. By analyzing both closed- and open-ended responses, we examine how participants navigate the trade-off between profit maximization and moral responsibility, emphasizing how their role in the decision—either in a leadership position (e.g., the CEO) or as part of a peer group (e.g., a shareholder)—affects their choice. Finally, we assess the impact of perceived responsibility for the negative consequences of the project and whether participants engage in some form of cost-benefit analysis when reaching their decision.