Ethical Issue?

I want to know how ethical it is to:

1) accept an academic offer i.e. sign your name on the offer
2) and tell the department that you are not going to join (due to circumstance or better job offer)

Isn't this that regularly happens in industry? Is it different for academia?

I will love to know your thoughts !

I haz the Job

Thats right.
I have a tenure-track offer from a research university. It is the kind of department that I am looking for with a balance of teaching and research. They are supporting me a lot for my research activities. I am carefully considering but I think I will accept the offer.

Got to go and sign the letter, put in a resignation from my current position and making all the arrangements for the move. Oh did I mention travel schedules in between.

More details later. Wish me luck !