Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Cambridge Science and Education Conference‖ (May 15-17, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. - Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2026. - 429 p.

422 economic conditions, the mechanisms of a firm's market value formation have undergone radical transformations, driven by the significant increase in the role of intangible assets. During the transition to a digital economy, the saturation of information flows has transformed corporate reputation into a factor of strategic importance. Whereas classical economics treated moral norms as exogenous constraints that impeded profit maximization, contemporary institutional frameworks recognize them as endogenous drivers of capitalization and competitive advantage. This shift in economic thought has fostered a new paradigm where the perceived tension between morality and efficiency is reconciled through the framework of 'ethical capital.' Consequently, business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) have transitioned from being merely voluntary or philanthropic gestures into a strategic toolkit essential for mitigating information asymmetry in the digital age and ensuring long-term organizational viability․ Business ethics is a field of applied ethics that examines the moral norms and behavioral principles emerging within economic activities, aimed at ensuring justice, accountability, and trust. It regulates the nexus between the pursuit of profit and social responsibility, reflecting the conduct of market participants [2, p. 13 ]․ The principles of business ethics ensure the stability and efficiency of economic relations, foster trust, enhance organizational reputation and competitiveness, and mitigate risks. Adherence to ethical principles promotes fair competition and precludes unfair practices, while the cultivation of an ethical culture increases employee accountability and overall efficiency [3, p. 16]․ The role of ethics in economic efficiency is primarily manifested through the optimization of transaction costs. As posited by O. Williamson, the "opportunistic behavior" of economic agents necessitates supplemental expenditures for contract formulation, monitoring, and legal enforcement [4, p. 47]. Conversely, the formal institutionalization of ethical standards fosters the accumulation of 'trust capital.' In a high-trust environment, contractual relationships gain flexibility and discretion, enabling stakeholders to navigate beyond redundant regulatory hurdles. This