What is the Impact of Teaching Business Ethics on the Incidence of Accounting Fraud?
Open Access
Author:
Vanriele, Victoria
Area of Honors:
Accounting
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Ed Ketz, Thesis Supervisor Samuel Burton Bonsall, IV, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
business business ethics accounting accounting fraud impact of teaching business ethics
Abstract:
This paper compares the relationship between increasing business ethics education and accounting fraud cases over the past few decades. Using raw data from the SEC, scholarly journal articles, survey data, and professional opinions, the conclusion is that there is no correlation between the two variables. Due to the lack of precise data for a count of collegiate business ethics courses, the proxy of the publication of business ethics-related journal articles was used in determining the absence of a correlation. I conclude, based on the strength of other sources, that the most important factors to combat accounting fraud are ethical company cultures and strong firmwide internal controls, on top of the early introduction of ethics in a student’s education and active reinforcement thereafter.
