AGGIOTAGGIO. - Speculation consisting in publishing or otherwise disseminating false, exaggerated, or tendentious information, or in employing other artifices likely to cause an increase or decrease in the price of goods, or of securities admitted to stock-exchange listings or negotiable on the public market. In many legal systems a. is considered a crime (for Italy V. CODICE. pen. art. 267 e 501).
A., as is obvious, is always immoral. Whoever resorts to it violates commutative justice to the extent of the harm actually inflicted upon others; and to that extent is therefore bound to make restitution.
If it proves very difficult or impossible to identify those harmed—which occurs in cases in which a. assumes considerable proportions—according to common opinion the sums improperly gained must be used for charitable works. (v. BOBBA).