Our economy was built over decades by creating growth in the business sector. Businesses provide jobs, finances and security to individuals within society and are a major source of what defines our country as prosperous. Every company has an ethical responsibility towards its members, employees and society at large. Ethical responsibility is an important component that society must strengthen because it helps create principles, values, and standards, which help guide a person's behavior (Ferrel et al. 2013). Ethics helps create a balance which in turn will have positive results for the company versus negative results. It seems that no matter where we look today, companies like Enron, WorldCom, AIG and many, many others confirm the lack of business ethics in this country. At no other time than in recent decades has the need for ethical business oversight been of such importance to the prosperity of our country. For example, Bernard Madoff is known to be the perpetrator of the most fraudulent and deceptive Ponzi scheme in history, creating a stark reminder that the corrosion of ethics and lack of basic moral principles have brought this country to the point where Trust in institutions and the very market-driven systems that make our society function are in imminent danger of collapse. The Bernie Madoff case is a clear example of what can happen when corporate ethics are not respected. This case profiles a businessman who defrauded thousands of people for years and caused serious problems for the people involved and society at large. This essay will outline the main aspects of the case which include the nature of the problem, who are the main stakeholders, what is the problem for each of the parties involved... middle of the paper... and Necessity of natural evils. Retrieved April 2014 from http://www.aquinasonline.com/Topics/probevil.html“Ponzi Scheme”. Investipedia. Network. April 8, 2014. URL: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/ponzischeme.asp#ixzz2D2ZfgzNC."SEC Charges Bernard L. Madoff in Multibillion-Dollar Ponzi Scheme (2008–293)." SEC.gov. United States Securities and Exchange Commission. December 11, 2008. Web. April 8, 2014. "The Madoff Case: A Chronology." The Wall Street Journal. March 6, 2009. Web. April 8, 2014. URL: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB112966954231272304?mod=googlenews_wsj&mg=reno64wsj&url =http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB112966954231272304. html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjWeiner, Eric J. “What Happens: The Uncensored Story of Modern Wall Street as Told by the Bankers, Brokers, CEOs, and the Scumbags Who Made It Happen.” Piccolo, Brown and company. pp. 188–192. Press.