30 December 2006
Icarus in the boardroom
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The inquiry into AWB's dealings in Iraq has put a black mark against Australia's reputation as an 'honest broker' in the world of business and finance.
Halfway across the world the Enron trial, which you'll remember we looked at a couple of weeks back, continues to uncover more evidence of seriously bad behaviour on the part of those who ran the company.
Of course, we always hope that such cases continue to be the exception and not the rule when it comes to acceptable practice in the corporate world.
Sadly, we have to accept that these are not the first nor will they be the last companies to be exposed for illegal or, in the case of AWB, at very least questionable practices.
As the longstanding 'top dog' of international business, the United States has a particularly long and infamous roll call of Enron like scandals.
David Skeel says an understanding of the mythical Greek figure Icarus is a good place to start when looking for reasons why the barrel will always throw up a few bad apples.
This interview was first broadcast on 25/2/06.
Guests
David Skeel
Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania
Further Information
Publications
Title: Icarus in the Boardroom: The Fundamental Flaws of Corporate America and Where They Came From
Author: David Skeel
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Story Researcher and Producer
Scott Wales
