Ethical Issues in Global Business

These examples clearly illustrate the motivation behind corruption, money and greed. When politics and scandal interrelate the individual becomes the pawn in a corrupt machine.
From the perspective of U.S. entrepreneurs, bribery presents a double-edged sword. While bribes are expected in many countries, the United States' 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits payments made to foreign government officials with the aim of gaining or maintaining business. Corruption is hardly a problem that is exclusive to the third world. The fact that much third world corruption has important first world participation is also now a commonplace.
Work is how we spend our lives, and the lessons we learn there, good or bad play a part in the development of our moral perspective and the manner in which we formulate and adjudicate ethical choices. The philosopher Edmund Burke said, "liberty cannot long exist among a people generally corrupt." Widespread corruption introduces a deadly dose of moral pollution into society. It distorts values that can be as harmful as the material damage itself. People must not give in to the belief that power is based solely on deception or violence, and that the only way to achieve success and wealth is through crime and corruption. Corruption is part of human nature. No society is free of corruption. So any society that remains blase about its ability to contain and withstand corruption is vulnerable. Combating corruption, therefore, begins with better systems. Monopolies must be reduced or carefully regulated. Official discretion must be clarified. Transparency must be enhanced. The probability of being caught must increase, and the penalties for corruption (for both givers and takers) must rise.

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