On September 17th, 2001, former Enron Corporation’s Chief Executive, Jeffrey Skilling, attempted to sell the company’s stock at the first opportunity. This was because only Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay had access to insider information regarding the financial troubles in the energy company due to which the stock price was speculated to drop. 

Therefore they planned to dump the stock in the market to other investors, an action aimed at furthering his own vested interests. 

Had he revealed the information and knowledge that he had, it would have averted the big disaster and avoided the Wall Street Crash. Being a stock-broker and the knower of this situation has made me realise that when shareholders or the public invest in a company, they put their faith and trust in it which has to be safe-guarded. Although both parties, whether issuing stocks or investing, aim to earn profits, the knowledge that they hold cannot be free from ethical considerations. However, if there exists asymmetric information, as in this case, then there is huge turmoil and impact on the public. Only thinking about your own benefit at the cost of others, no matter how rational your choices, would definitely be unethical and against social responsibility. 

My object, the Enron shares show that whether it is the company or the stockbroker who consumes the knowledge, withholding or concealing any knowledge which could hurt the public as a whole, would be likely to be considered unethical on any grounds. Thus this object adds value by showing the repercussions of mala fide intentions and malpractices.