Corruption in the Business World (From Responding to the Challenges of Corruption, P 135-139, 2000, Anna A. del Frate and Giovanni Pasqua, eds. -- See NCJ-184664)

• NCJ Number: 184675
• Author(s): Fiona Marcq
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations Publications; United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Italy

Annotation

This chapter looks at corruption and bribery issues from a business viewpoint.

Abstract

The article discusses changes in attitudes toward corruption and bribery in the business world, businesses' role in countering such practices and recent regulatory initiatives and their positive contribution in the fight against corrupt practices. The Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederation of Europe (UNICE) strongly supports the 1997 OECD Convention on combating bribery of foreign public officials and its role as strong legal justification for companies' refusal to pay bribes. UNICE recommends an international cooperation mechanism to assist companies in specific cases, such as requests for bribes in the context of large public procurement contracts. However, while legislation, regulation and cooperative efforts can help, UNICE strongly recommends internal regulation as key to promoting an ethical business culture. Business organizations have a useful role to play in drawing their members' attention to the importance of the issue of combating corruption and in encouraging them to develop their own corporate ethical values.