Construction is risky business. The law of supply and demand creates the foundation of basic economics and the construction industry is no exception. As markets tighten and work becomes scarce, marginal tactics and strategies become viable options for some stakeholders in the construction process, as outlined in your editorial, "Time for State Legislatures to Stand Up for Subs" (ENR 10/18 p. 104). In the name of backlog management, an option that would otherwise represent the "unthinkable" becomes a risk to be considered.
As the unthinkable is introduced, ethics enter the equation. Although the constant ebb and flow of marketplace activity creates an element of variability, ethics relate to the very character of a firm or organization and tend to be constant. Experience shows us that firms that engage in unethical behavior tend to engage in it independent of market conditions. But as a whole, ethics throughout our industry do not demonstrate significant deterioration as a function of market activity. To the extent that unethical behavior exists, it crosses all lines to include owners, architects, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.