Money & Ethics

March 5, 2013

Should Creative Property Be Free Online?

Creative people should get paid for their talent in a variety of ways, especially by consumers of their work.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation

February 5, 2013

Freebies That Charities Send in the Mail

You're under no moral obligation to pay for something you didn't request.

See More On: Family Finances

February 5, 2013

When Is a Gift to the Teacher Over the Top?

Knight Kiplinger gives his advice to a teacher uncomfortable receiving expensive gifts from students' parents.

See More On: Leisure Spending

January 2, 2013

Should Judges Be Elected or Appointed?

The popular election of judges opens up the judicial branch to the same partisan and commercial pressures that the other branches experience.

See More On: Politics

January 2013

Should You Play Politics With Your Purchases?

It's often difficult to pierce the public relations veil of a giant corporation to learn how it's really conducting its affairs.

See More On: Politics | Smart Buying

December 2012

Should Parking Rules Favor the Handicapped?

It's reasonable to give the disabled a longer parking limit than others, but they should pay the same as everyone else.

See More On: Politics

November 2012

Should Execs Return Bonuses They Don’t Merit?

Getting ill-gotten gains returned to shareholders remains the exception, not the rule.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation | Business Costs & Regulation | Business Costs & Regulation

October 2012

Who Should Get Priority for Transplants?

A general preference for young transplant recipients over old makes sense for society.

See More On: Health Care & Insurance

September 2012

Class-Action Lawsuit or Shakedown?

Too many of these lawsuits are based on nit-picking offenses, with negligible compensation for the "injured" consumers.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation

August 2012

Browse in a Store, then Buy Online: Is This Fair?

If you've benefited from the physical presence of a local store to learn about products you're interested in, make your purchase there, too.

See More On: Smart Buying

July 2012

Is My Husband Hiding Money From Me?

Your husband should not deviate from your banking plan without talking to you first.

See More On: Family Finances

June 2012

Is It Ethical to Opt Out of Health Insurance?

The key principle of ethical living is taking responsibility for oneself and not putting a burden on others.

See More On: Health Care & Insurance | Health Care & Insurance | Politics

May 2012

Is Foreclosure Relief Fair to Everyone Else?

We're seeing state and federal foreclosure relief that looks unfair to taxpayers and arbitrary in its benefits.

See More On: Buying & Selling a Home | Politics

April 2012

Is My Union's Pension Fund Hypocritical?

It's not uncommon for a pension plan's sponsoring organization to give the trustees general guidance on unacceptable investments.

See More On: Saving for Retirement | Employee Benefits

March 2012

Should Athletes Share in Their School's Profits?

There's an ethical imperative to provide fair compensation for all workers whose hard work and talent create profits.

See More On: Careers | College Rankings

February 2012

When Your Favorite Charity Sells Out

Charities typically insist that they'd never let a donor relationship affect their positions on issues, but that seems naïve or disingenuous.

See More On: Making Your Money Last

January 2012

Don't Make a Deal You Don't Intend to Honor

An ethical businessman bids what he truly believes an asset is worth and what he's fully committed to paying.

See More On: Buying & Selling a Home

December 2011

What Happens When an Office Romance Ends?

A fair job transfer? Or does he just want her out of his sight?

See More On: Careers

November 2011

Should a Hot Division Get a
Bigger Bonus?

The goal isn’t to please everyone but to attract and retain talented staff. This can be accomplished with different approaches.

See More On: Employee Benefits | Careers

November 2011

Should a Hot Division Get a Bigger Bonus?

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation | Employee Benefits

October 2011

Is It Ethical to Break Pension Promises?

A middle ground must be found between conflicting obligations.

See More On: Employee Benefits | Politics

September 2011

Should Online Retailers Collect Sales Taxes?

To me, the fundamental principle of ethical taxation is equal treatment of similar transactions.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation | Business Costs & Regulation | Economic Outlooks

August 2011

Is Gentrification a Plus for the Neighbors?

Gentrification is often used unfairly to describe what should be viewed as a normal and positive stage in the life cycle of cities.

See More On: Buying & Selling a Home

July 2011

Should I Give Handouts to Panhandlers?

You can support local social-service agencies that help many poor people and screen for need.

See More On: Family Finances

June 2011

Is It Right to Up the Ante for Our Adoption?

Large payments to a birth mother? Something's not right.

See More On: Family Finances

May 2011

Cut Costs With Independent Contractors?

It's appropriate for a business owner to try to lower prices to customers, but fattening the bottom line at the employees' expense is not ethical.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation | Business Costs & Regulation | Business Costs & Regulation

April 2011

Are Unpaid Interns Exploited by Employers?

Internships are a pragmatic way for young workers to get inside a good company and prove their worth.

See More On: Careers | Employee Benefits

March 2011

Should Employers Check My Credit Before Hiring?

Credit checks should be allowed, and job applicants should have the right to explain negative information.

See More On: Careers | Employee Benefits

February 2011

Is It Price Gouging or Good Business?

Economics follows the amoral laws of supply and demand. And seemingly ethical behavior can have unintended consequences.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation | Business Costs & Regulation | Small Business

January 2011

The Boss Should Bring Back the 401(k) Match

This is the time for employers to reinstate or raise their matching contributions.

See More On: Employee Benefits

December 2010

Is Rent Control Unfair to New Tenants?

Like most governmental price-fixing, rent control invites black-market evasion.

See More On: Buying & Selling a Home

November 2010

Are We On the Hook for a Lavish Wedding?

Offer the couple a significant financial gift to start them off in their lives together -- and let them decide how to spend it.

See More On: Smart Buying

October 2010

It's Not Okay to Skip Out on a Mortgage

Default is ethical only for people who can no longer afford their home because of circumstances beyond their control, such as job loss.

See More On: Buying & Selling a Home

September 2010

Should I Blow the Whistle on a Co-Worker?

See More On: Careers

August 2010

Should You Wed for Money Rather Than Love?

Mutual love is the ideal, but material security has also been a marital motivation since the beginning of time.

See More On: Family Finances

July 2010

Should the Feds Call the Shots on Salaries?

Kiplinger's editor in chief tackles queries about executive compensation and union involvement.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation

June 2010

Gaming the New Rules of Health Insurance

People who can afford insurance but choose to go without it are thumbing their noses at society.

See More On: Health Care & Insurance

May 2010

We're Leaving Our Children a Shameful Legacy

It's unethical for our nation to pass the buck -- literally -- to future generations of taxpayers.

See More On: Economic Outlooks

April 2010

Property-Tax Relief: Rate Cuts Fairer Than Caps

Plus, a question about non-compete agreements.

See More On: Buying & Selling a Home

March 2010

Say No to This Lawyer's Shakedown

Resist the temptation to sue just to win a quick settlement.

See More On: Business Costs & Regulation | Careers

February 2010

Treat Terminated Employees With Respect

How you manage layoffs sends a clear message to remaining employees about how the company views them and how they will be treated in the future.

See More On: Employee Benefits

January 2010

Did the Antiques Dealer Pull a Fast One?

Learn the rules of selling your goods.

See More On: Smart Buying

December 2009

When Do Agents Need to Split a Commission?

There's no statute of limitations on a broker's fee.

See More On: Buying & Selling a Home