Developing an Ethical Approach to Investment Banking

Abstract

Examining the activities of investment banks from an ethical perspective involves looking not only in depth at the practices of investment banks and the underlying reasons for these practices (something that much of the recent critical commentary in the popular press fails to do) but also at the basis for ethical decision-making. This is a complex area, as there is no universal blueprint for thinking and acting ethically. There are various schools of thought, which highlight different ethical insights, all of which may have some relevance for investment banking.