Moral und Ökonomie: Wall Street in Crisis – A Perfect Storm Looming

Eine Umfrage unter 250 Beschäftigten im Finanzsektor der Vereinigten Staaten brachte (eigentlich) wenig Neues. Die Umfragezahlen verweisen auf jene von Honegger, Neckel und Magnin (2010) so benannte „strukturierte Verantwortungslosigkeit“ im Vorfeld und Kontext der globalen Finanzkrise. Inwiefern eine ethische Perspektive hier etwas bringt – Sprache und Präsentation der Umfragedaten legen diese nahe – wäre erst einmal zu diskutieren. Einige  Ergebnisse seien herausgegriffen:

•  More than half of respondents–52%–felt it was likely that their competitors have
  engaged in unethical or illegal activity to gain an edge in the market; 24% felt
  employees at their own company likely have engaged in misconduct to get ahead.
• Misconduct is still widespread in the financial services industry; 23% of respondents indicated that they had observed or had firsthand knowledge of wrongdoing in the workplace.
• More than half of respondents–52%–felt it was likely that their competitors have engaged in unethical or illegal activity to gain an edge in the market
• 24% felt employees at their own company likely have engaged in misconduct to get ahead.
• 29% of respondents believed that financial services professionals may need to engage in unethical or illegal activity in order to be successful.
• More than one-quarter of all financial services professionals–26%–believed the
  compensation plans or bonus structures in place at their companies incentivize
  employees to compromise ethical standards or violate the law.
• An alarming number of financial services professionals, 24% of respondents, likely would engage in insider trading to make $10 million if they could get away with it.
• Shockingly, and consistent with recent and high-profile criticism of the culture within the financial services industry, a full 28% of respondents felt that the financial services industry does not put the interests of clients first.

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