Does competition destroy ethical behavior?
By: Andrei Shleifer.
Contributors: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series ;; working paper 10269; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) ;; working paper no. 10269.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Competition.; Business ethics.
Description: "Explanations of unethical behavior often neglect the role of competition, as opposed to greed, in assuring its spread.  Using the examples of child labor, corruption, excessive' executive pay, corporate earnings manipulation, and commercial activities by universities, this paper clarifies the role of competition in promoting censured conduct.  When unethical behavior cuts costs, competition drives down prices and entrepreneurs' incomes, and thereby reduces their willingness to pay for ethical conduct.  Nonetheless, I suggest that competition might be good for ethical behavior in the long run, because it promotes growth and raises incomes.  Higher incomes raise the willingness to pay for ethical behavior, but may also change what people believe to be ethical for the better"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Also available in print.
Includes bibliographical references.
Title from PDF file as viewed on 1/24/2005.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.