Ethical Considerations in Crowdfunding

Abstract

The current chapter addresses ethical issues in crowdfunding practice from a multiple stakeholder perspective. It draws on ethical principles outlined in both classical and business-specific approaches. The discussion first presents classical approaches to ethical decision making. It then discusses whether crowdfunding presents an ethical solution or a source of ethical problems. Later, it suggests a framework presenting a classification of potential ethical dilemmas and pitfalls in crowdfunding practice, as well as potential means for addressing them. The discussion concludes with concrete implications for crowdfunding ethics research and practice.