Trapped: When Acting Ethically Is Against the Law

by John Hasnas

Since Enron's collapse in 2002, the federal government has stepped up its campaign against white-collar crime. In this timely book, John Hasnas reveals how the government's effort to enforce legal rules has created a Catch-22 legal environment in which businesspeople must either act unethically or illegally.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930865880
• ISBN13: 9781930865884
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Cato Institute
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Informative... no fluff

This book will deliver real examples of ethical challenges that face business and it may just change how you feel about them. It demonstrates why making the best corporate decisions are not always the best ethical ones. By clearly weighing the advantages and disadvantages of several approaches within four familiar scenarios, it establishes real challenges to think about from beginning to end. I'm ready to read it again!

Confused about the law and ethics?

John Hasnas gives us examples and scenarios that can help us to see his point on acting ethically when it is against the law. What can a business owner do? If you are in business, you will find this book extremely interesting. Being in the debt collection business this book is a great read, bill collectors are supposed to follow the law, act ethically all while being dubbed as the "bottom feeders" of society. Very interesting book and ideas.

Deftly exploring the impracticalities and seemingly inane concepts which restrict our citizens and f

Trapped: When Acting Ethically Is Against The Law by John Hasnas (Associate Professor, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, Washington DC) focuses upon ethical dilemmas arising from the over-criminalization of commonplace behaviors, demands of the law and ethics considerations for its violation, and the seemingly culturally sanctioned allowance of unethical behavior amongst corporate executives and businesses. Deftly exploring the impracticalities and seemingly inane concepts which restrict our citizens and fill our penitentiaries, Trapped is very strongly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in business ethics, white color crime, and their impact in a highly competitive marketplace.