Developing Countries, Business Ethics in

Business ethics of developing countries refers to the moral standards governing responsible business practices in countries that are still working toward an acceptable standard of living. Developing countries are generally characterized by lack of industrialization, low per capita income, and widespread poverty. Business ethics in these countries tends to relate to norms that have arisen largely independent of Western expectations and values.

The assumption is often that less industrialization is a sign of weaker moral standards. In fact, this is not necessarily the case—standards in developing countries are often simply “different,” and “different” standards do not necessarily translate into “lower” standards. The reality is that societies in developing countries, absent Western influences, have tended to structure themselves according to different values. In [Page 576]China, for example, ...