Ethical dilemmas of young economists: the case of Warsaw School of Economics students

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to discuss initial results of the research conducted on a group of 244 Warsaw School of Economics students. The research focuses on ethical dilemmas of students graduating from business, finance and economics.Design/methodology/approachThe research was based on the methodology proposed by Eweje and Brunon and focused on examining the existence of ethical dilemmas identified on the basis of 11 case scenarios and analyzed with reference to the selected characteristics of respondents. The characteristics included the participants' gender, age, study year, study program and faculty, the place of birth, professional experience, international experience and financial situation.FindingsThe research obtained on the sample of Polish students confirms the international results stressing the key importance of their gender, age, study faculty and professional experience for identifying ethical dilemmas.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis delivers some initial evidence and does not allow the formulation of strong conclusions. It requires replication and the use of a larger and better balanced sample.Practical implicationsThe ethical dilemmas are crucial for soon to be managers since their decisions shape corporate activity and business development. Research results may also play an important role for shaping educational programs.Originality/valueThe paper analyzes the ethical dilemmas of students from one of the top business schools in Central and Eastern Europe, contributing to understanding the ethical issues of soon to be managers and opening a discussion on the role of university education for shaping the conduct of future managers.