I find it strange that although life expectancy is increasing, we live more and more in the immediate present. This trend towards short term decisions and instant gratification is very worrying for society and the conservation of the planet.
I found this interesting article on diminishing cheating but getting persons to focus on their future selves in Government Executive.com : "Cheating pays but imagine your future" by Rachel Nuwer. The study is interesting, and might even work. But I don't see how you are going to get people to focus on their future selves before making a short term (and beneficial) decision.
Is ethics a luxury ? Does it only kick in when basic needs have been met (bottom of the Maslow hierarchy of needs) ? So it would not be considered in survival situations (wars, strife, starvation...) or even in start-up companies? I suppose some people are more ethical by inclination or awareness and we would take into account mitigating circumstances in extreme cases - but the grey zone seems to be expanding.
The sequence of the Maslow pyramid also seems to be relaxing as the new generation seem to be quite happy living with their parents and do not feel the same need to become independent as their elders. But even with their first job they want self-actualization before independence. Which makes them even more short-term minded and focussed on instant gratification. It is a real challenge to keep them motivated in the workplace and, I suspect, also interested in the good of the company or the community before their own needs.