ABSTRACT
Financial contracts are based on the promises and commitments they make and the prospects they offer. Debt and, more broadly, search for funding are key parts of the financialised societies. These activities involve households, businesses and public bodies, as do the associated ethical dilemmas. Just as with fund holders, the dilemmas arise simultaneously at various levels: individuals, institutions and societal choices. Business financing can be divided into equity that is ultimately made available by shareholders - including through undistributed profits - and external capital, which essentially means creditors' loans. Some public expenditures and investments have a twofold impact: the costs of implementing a project that gives politicians greater prominence, and the operating costs that place a lasting burden on public funds. Accounting standards aim to reduce information asymmetry between internal operators and the outside world, particularly financial partners.
