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Arthur Andersen and the price of siding with the client

In 2001, Enron’s auditor destroyed documents as investigators closed in, and within a year its reputation had collapsed. Learn why trust is what an auditor really sells, and what research says about bias.

Major #7: AccountingThe story: Arthur Andersen and Enron (2001–2005). The book: The Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind.

About 8 minutes

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In this lesson

  • Houston, autumn 2001
  • The law: an auditor sells trust
  • What the research says about taking sides
  • The book: The Smartest Guys in the Room
  • What the evidence says about greed and deceit
  • Where this comes from
  • Try it today
  • 4 questions to check yourself

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