Ethics in finance and industry

"Since the end of the 1980s, French companies, as well as foreign groups (especially Anglo-Saxon ones), have embarked on the formalization of their ethics in large numbers. " Ethics is a notion that is being talked about more and more, in fact nowadays companies seem to be really concerned by this notion that seems to be so close to their hearts. Whether it's for issues of working conditions, morality towards customers, employees working conditions, the environment, ... In an ever-changing world marked by rapid technological advances and increasing globalization, businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. One of these challenges is the need to operate ethically. In the information age, where every action of a company can be scrutinized and shared in an instant, maintaining a positive reputation is essential. As Peter Drucker pointed out, "Corporate social responsibility is to create profits ". However, at a time when transparency has become the norm and public expectations for ethics and corporate social responsibility are higher than ever, is this vision still relevant? The central question is: "How does ethics influence decisions and behavior within companies, financial markets and industry, and what are the main tensions and challenges faced in reconciling ethics and economic performance?" This issue will be at the heart of our study. In the first part, we will explore corporate behavior and the creation of ethical codes. We will look at the process of developing ethics in business, examining how and why companies choose to formalize their ethical commitments and what are the implications of these choices. The second part will focus on the potential conflicts between ethics and finance. We will analyze the role of financial markets, which are often perceived as solely profit-driven, and how they can be influenced or even constrained by ethical considerations. Topics such as usury, insider trading and money laundering will be addressed, highlighting the specific ethical challenges of the financial field. Finally, the third part will look at ethics in the industrial context. Industry, with its ability to directly influence the environment, communities, and economies, has a special responsibility when it comes to ethics. We will discuss the fundamental ethical principles that guide the industry, the responsible management of natural resources, ethical working conditions, accountability to stakeholders, and the mechanisms in place to promote ethics in this sector. Through this study, we will seek to understand how companies and industries can navigate the complex landscape of ethics while pursuing their economic goals. We will also explore how they can help create a more responsible, equitable and sustainable business world for all.