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TUCK INTERNATIONAL FORUM
Confronting Corruption in Global Business
April 5th - April 6th, 2007
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Ariel Halpern Lecture on Ethics and Social Responsibility and Keynote Address
"The Mounting Global Challenges of Corruption & Business Integrity"
Frank Vogl, Co-Founder and Board Member, Transparency International
President, Vogl Communications Inc.
Please note: the keynote address will now start at 8:30PM! |
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2007 Tuck Ethics Essay Competition on Facilitating Payments
Note: this competition is open to Tuck students only
The winner will receive $500, and his/her name will be announced at the end of the conference!
 Information on How to Enter |
Conference Background
The Tuck International Forum is a yearly conference on international business issues of particular interest to students organized by the Center for International Business.
The year’s conference, organized in partnership with the Allwin Initiative for Corporate Citizenship and the Tuck International Club, examines the issue of corruption in global business. Watchdog groups such as Transparency International argue that corruption undermines the global economy and must be eradicated. Businesses that resist corruption may lose out to less scrupulous competitors. Countries where corruption is endemic may receive less foreign direct investment. Companies from these countries may find it more difficult to establish business relationships. All of this can result in lower rates of economic growth and higher rates of poverty, especially in developing countries.
There are those who argue, however, that this view amounts to cultural imperialism; practices that are labeled “corrupt” in one country may be part of the normal workings of business in another. Furthermore, companies that prohibit their workers from engaging in these practices may suffer financially. Others point out that the payment of bribes can mitigate low government salaries and bureaucratic inefficiency, both of which can severely hamper economic progress and poverty alleviation. Those with experience in transition economies note that companies that refuse to pay bribes may actually play into the hands of opponents of reform, and thus slow overall economic growth.
Against the backdrop of these diverse viewpoints is a complex and varied set of national and corporate rules on corruption. For example, some countries and companies allow “facilitating payments,” while others decry them as bribes. For those who will lead in the global economy and confront corruption, which stance is the most ethical? Which stance represents the best business decision-making?
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