Question

Why is the cost of dishonesty greater than simply the amount that people are cheated?

Answer 1

The cost of dishonesty is more than total amount people have been robbed off is because when many people in a society get away swindling money or other things by being dishonest, it gives confidence to other people who also follow them and become dishonest. A few dishonest people can create a culture of dishonesty in the society, thereby creating more dishonest people. This chain goes on and dishonesty becomes the norm in the society. Thus the the cost of dishonesty is multiplied by perpetuating a dishonest society.