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The Legal and Ethical Problems Displayed in “Wall Street”

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The Legal and Ethical Problems Displayed in “Wall Street”
The film titled, “Wall Street”, demonstrates the legal and ethical problems that have and still exist in the securities markets. It defines itself through a number of moral conflicts putting wealth and power against simplicity and honesty. The film is about an ambitious Wall Street stockbroker, Bud Fox, who lives in New York City during the 1980’s. He possesses a very strong desire to succeed and get to the very top of his field. He ends up not only working for a brokerage firm during the day but he also spends much of his spare time working on a position with one of the biggest stock speculators on Wall Street, Gordan Gekko whom Fox admires. Gekko is extremely successful, but a ruthless and greedy broker who achieved his status by manipulating the market using inside information. Gekko takes advantage of Fox’s burning desire to succeed and explains to Fox his philosophy that “Greed is good” and slowly shapes his apprentice in this mold of win at all costs. Soon Fox found himself thriving on doing whatever it took to become rich, even if that meant doing something unethical and illegal to gain an advantage, which he ends up paying a hefty price for at the conclusion of the film. There were multiple unethical and illegal things that Fox ends up participating in because of the lessons he had been taught from Gekko. For instance, inside trading, spying, possessing the attitude of doing whatever it takes to get rich quick and betraying people like his own father.
Insider trading is not only against the law but it is also unethical. Fox knowingly participates in such activities in order to work for Gekko, whom can help him make a lot of money in the short-run. After meeting Gekko, Fox gives him a stock tip based on insider information he happened to come across while talking to his father, Carl. He immorally

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