Conflict of interest

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A '''conflict of interest''' is a situation in which a person or organization experiences conflicting goals. Sometimes this can lead to [[ethical]] and professional issues.

Many conflicts of interest can be boiled down to "what's personally good for me isn't good for my employer" or "I am loyal to two groups, and what is good for one is bad for another".<ref>[https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/conflict-of-interest Conflict of Interest] - Ethics Unwrapped</ref>

== Types ==
Here are a few examples of conflicts of interests:<ref>[https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-a-conflict-of-interest-give-me-some-examples-398192 What is a Conflict of Interest? Give Me Some Examples] - The Balance Small Business</ref>
* '''Self-dealing''' involves using the employer's resources for personal gain. In the case of [[Charity|charities]], this can involve purchasing products or services from companies owned by members of the board of directors or their families, or even directly benefiting the members of the board beyond their salaries.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-foundation-apparently-admits-to-violating-ban-on-self-dealing-new-filing-to-irs-shows/2016/11/22/893f6508-b0a9-11e6-8616-52b15787add0_story.html Trump Foundation admits to violating ban on ‘self-dealing,’ new filing to IRS shows] by David A. Fahrenthold (November 22, 2016) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>
* '''[[Nepotism]]''' involves hiring or giving favors to family members or close friends because of personal ties instead of merit.
* '''Gifts''' or bribes given to influence someone in power.
* '''[[Pump and dump]]''', a process by which a stock broker or major shareholder spreads rumors to increase or decrease the value of a certain stock for financial reasons.

==Legalities and rules==
While some conflicts of interest are technically not illegal (like recommending your best friend's business to an employer), other forms are more serious and can warrant fines or [[prison]] sentences.

===Public sector===
* Judges must recuse themselves if they have a conflict of interest (such as a personal relationship with someone in the case).

===Private sector===
* During hiring, a company may ask an applicant if they have any family members in the company. If so, the family member won't be included in the decision of whether to hire the applicant.
* Many companies have rules about workplace dating, especially between a manager and an employee that they manage.
* Insider trading is illegal.

===Academics===
* Researchers are expected to declare in publications any potential conflicts of interest with their research, particularly for sources of funding that may benefit from research outcomes.

==Notable examples==
* [[Anti-vaccination movement|Anti-vaxx]] "scientist" [[Andrew Wakefield]] published a fraudulent paper claiming that the [[MMR vaccine]] could cause [[autism]]. He wanted to [[patent]] and profit from his own formulation of the [[MMR vaccine]], and lawyers were paying him to make these claims in court.
**Brian Hooker, a person already pursuing a case in the Vaccine Court involving his child where he believed that the MMR vaccine gave his child [[autism]], attempted a "reanalysis" of a ''DeStefano et al.'' paper to try to prove vaccines can cause autism. This is part of the whole [[CDC whistleblower controversy|CDC whistleblower hullabaloo]].
* According to the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), then-President [[Donald Trump]] had over 2,000 conflicts of interest in summer 2019. This included political events and foreign dignitary visits at his properties.<ref>[https://www.citizensforethics.org/2000-trump-conflicts-of-interest-counting/ Trump's 2,000 Conflicts of Interest (And Counting)] - Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</ref> As of February 2020, the number is nearing 3,000.<ref>[https://www.citizensforethics.org/trump-conflicts-of-interest-tracking/ Tracking President Trump's Unprecedented Conflicts of Interest] - Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</ref>
* [[The Non-GMO Project|The Non-GMO Project]] has partnered with Cargill to certify Cargill products as [[GMO]]-free, raising concerns about accuracy.<ref>[https://geneticliteracyproject.org/glp-facts/non-gmo-project-pro-organic-group-wants-to-shrink-market-for-conventional-foods-kill-biotechnology/ Non-GMO Project: Pro-organic group wants to ‘shrink’ market for conventional foods, kill biotechnology] - Genetic Literacy Project</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lobbying]]
* [[Shill gambit]] — the act of accusing someone else of a conflict of interest without good reason (usually with the intent of [[Poisoning the well|discrediting them]])

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{stub|crime}}
[[Category:Crime]]
[[Category:Morality]]
[[Category:Research terms]]

Categories: Crime, Morality, Research terms