1. Ethics in Finance (John R. Boatright).

Part II Finance Theory.

2. Ethical Implications of Finance (Robert W. Kolb).

3. Behavioral Assumptions of Finance (John Dobson).

4. Efficiency and Rationality (Nien-hê Hsieh).

5. Risk, Return, and Financial Due Diligence (Christopher L. Culp and J. B. Heaton).

6. Reputational Risk (Ingo Walter).

7. Agency Theory (Joseph Heath).

8. Financial Theory of the Firm (Wayne Norman).

Part III Financial Markets.

9. Fairness in Markets (Eugene Heath).

10. Market Regulation (Edward Soule).

11. Insider Trading (Peter-Jan Engelen and Luc Van Liedekerke).

12. Derivative Contracts: Futures, Options, and Swaps (James A. Overdahl).

13. Hedge Funds (Thomas Donaldson).

14. Sovereign Wealth Funds (Colleen Baker).

Part IV Financial Services.

15. Marketing of Financial Services (George G. Brenkert).

16. Financial Codes of Ethics (Julie A. Ragatz and Ronald F. Duska).

17. Banking (Christopher J. Cowton).

18. Mutual Funds (D. Bruce Johnsen).

19. Pension Funds (David Hess).

20. Insurance (Ronald F. Duska and Julie A. Ragatz).

21. Socially Responsible Investing (Céline Louche and Steven Lydenberg).

22. Microfinance (Antonio Argandona).

Part V Financial Management.

23. Shareholder Wealth Maximization (Duane Windsor).

24. Earnings Management (Leonard J. Brooks).

25. Investor Relations (Cynthia Clark Williams and Lori Verstegen Ryan).

26. Risk Management (Peter C. Young).

27. Bankruptcy (Ben S. Branch and Jennifer S. Taub).

28. Acquisitions, Mergers, and Takeovers (Anthony F. Buono and Roy A. Wiggins III).

29. Executive Compensation (John J. McCall).

30. Boards of Directors (Dan R. Dalton and Catherine M. Dalton).

Index.

A groundbreaking exploration of the critical ethical issues in financial theory and practice

The Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance is an unparalleled source of information dedicated to the most important issues in modern finance. Each book focuses on a specific topic in the field of finance and contains contributed chapters from both respected academics and experienced financial professionals. As part of the Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance, Finance Ethics aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ever-changing ethical issues that confront finance professionals today.

John R. Boatright, editor of this volume, draws together the contributions of distinguished scholars from a wide range of disciplines—including finance, economics, philosophy, management, and law—to present essential perspectives on various ethics issues facing the financial services industry. While providing a rigorous analysis of all the topics covered—from due diligence and insider trading to socially responsible investing, executive compensation, and more—the book focuses special attention on fairness in markets and the delivery of financial services, as well as the duties of fiduciaries and agents.

Finance Ethics provides essential information and practical guidance for both practitioners in finance and students and academics with an interest in finance ethics.

This book, part of the Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance, is an essential collection of the latest research, theory, and practice on ethics in finance. Today more than ever, ethics is critically important to the actions and interactions of finance professionals and market participants. Finance Ethics is intended to advance the understanding and appreciation of the most important ethical issues in financial theory and practice and to encourage academic research and instruction by scholars in both finance and business ethics. This collection draws together the contributions of a wide range of distinguished scholars in the field, all presenting the most cutting-edge best practices for varied industry participants, with special attention paid to the larger firms and everyone's role within the framework of a business trying to make profits.

The contributors examine key issues in financial markets, financial services, financial management, and finance theory, and the volume includes chapters on market regulation, due diligence, reputational risk, insider trading, derivative contracts, hedge funds, mutual and pension funds, insurance, socially responsible investing, microfinance, earnings management, risk management, bankruptcy, executive compensation, hostile takeovers, and boards of directors.

These chapters discuss, for example, the main arguments against insider trading, including those based on a consideration of its alleged harmful consequences—as well as the difficulties in providing a cogent rationale for legal prohibitions. They look at the marketing of financial products to individuals, focusing on three areas that are subject to the greatest controversy: home mortgages, credit cards, and so-called payday loans. And they set out the ethical issues for both private and public pension plans. In addition to exploring some of the gray areas of fiduciary duty in pension fund management, they also discuss the ethics of shareholder activism and social investing, especially by public pension plans.

Although finance ethics may lack recognition as a distinct field of study, the chapters in this volume show that the individual topics involved have long been examined from an ethical point of view and are rich in ethical content. For both academics and practitioners, Finance Ethics skillfully explains the need for ethics in the personal conduct of finance professionals and the operation of financial markets and institutions.