Ethics in Real Estate

While ethical issues have been examined in conjunction with many business contexts, the area of real estate and ethics has, at best, received only minimal treatment. Given that real estate transactions represent one of the largest single expenditures by businesses and households, and recognizing that real estate holdings represent a major portion of wealth portfolios worldwide, this lack of coverage is conspicuous by its absence. The goal of this book is to begin rectifying this situation. By offering fifteen essays addressing the central issue of ethics and real estate from a wide variety of perspectives, the contributors seek to encourage a dialogue that is lively and, at times, provocative. The authors include academics and professional practitioners, and collectively represent five countries and many diverse disciplines. Drawing from both empirical and conceptual frameworks, the chapters are divided into five main sections: 1) policy issues, 2) industry practice, 3) environmental issues, 4) ethical issues involving transactions, and 5) ethical issues involving tenants. Taken together these essays offer a challenging point of departure for considering the important interaction of ethical issues in real estate theory and practice.