Just how unethical is American business?

This study of reports in the business news between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2005 found that as of 1999, 40 corporations in the Fortune 100 had committed behaviors that can be considered unethical. The behaviors of concern included three types of fraud (accounting, securities, and consumer), discriminatory practices, undisclosed executive pay, antitrust activities, patent infringement, and other violations of the law. Based on the “unacceptability” of the misdeeds committed, this article ranks the 40 firms into three categories. Further, it uses the research on business ethics and the behaviors of executives, boards of directors, and even government officials to suggest why these unethical behaviors were allowed to happen. Finally, it concludes with recommendations for improving business behavior, and suggests important roles for future business leaders and the broader American public.