Which type of ethical issue did 3M face regarding price-gouging accusations, according to the case?

Which type of ethical issue did 3M face regarding price-gouging accusations, according to the case?

• A. Competitive pressures on profits
• B. Environmental violations
• C. Intellectual property violations
• D. Bribery charges

Answer: (A)

Price gouging raises ethical questions about profit motives during times of high demand. When demand spikes for essential goods, raising prices to extreme levels to boost profits can harm customers and undermine trust, which is the ethical issue in question. In the 3M case, the concern was that pricing strategies during a crisis pushed prices up to leverage scarcity, reflecting competitive pressures on profits—the drive to maximize returns in a competitive market. This differs from environmental violations (harm to the environment), intellectual property violations (misuse of IP), or bribery (illegal payments to influence decisions). So the ethical issue described fits as competitive pressures on profits.

Price gouging raises ethical questions about profit motives during times of high demand. When demand spikes for essential goods, raising prices to extreme levels to boost profits can harm customers and undermine trust, which is the ethical issue in question. In the 3M case, the concern was that pricing strategies during a crisis pushed prices up to leverage scarcity, reflecting competitive pressures on profits—the drive to maximize returns in a competitive market. This differs from environmental violations (harm to the environment), intellectual property violations (misuse of IP), or bribery (illegal payments to influence decisions). So the ethical issue described fits as competitive pressures on profits.