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When Ethics are Compromised by Ideology: The Global Competitiveness Report

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Abstract

The Global Competitiveness Report raises ethical issues on multiple levels. The traditional high ranking accorded the US is largely attributable to fallacies, poor science and ideology. The ideological bias finds expression in two ways: the inclusion of indices that do not provide competitive advantage, but that fit the Anglo/US ideology; and the exclusion of indices that are known to offer competitive advantage, but that do not fit the Anglo/US ideology. This flaw is compounded by methodological problems that raise further doubt as to the reliability and validity of the survey results. The resultant false high ranking of the US, a strong proponent of Anglo/US capitalism, pseudo-legitimizes the propensity of US-dominated institutions and entities to persuade, coerce and, in the worst-case force other countries and their constituents to adopt Anglo/US practices and behaviours. This is ethically reprehensible because research shows that these practices and behaviours, when compared with other approaches, are sub-optimal in the results they produce for individuals, corporations and nations. The report also unjustly and unnecessarily stigmatizes entire groups of countries with little conceivable benefit to anyone. Given the report’s gravitas through the profound global influence it exerts on the decisions of top government and business leaders, these are serious ethical and economic issues.

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Abbreviations

ACR:

Arms-length contractual relations

BMW:

Bayerische Motoren Werke

CEO:

Chief executive officer

CSR:

Corporate social responsibility

DAX:

Deutscher Aktien Index (German stock market index)

GCR:

Global competitiveness report

GDP:

Gross domestic product

GFC:

Global financial crisis

GM:

General Motors

IMF:

International Monetary Fund

IT:

Information technology

OCR:

Obligational contractual relations

OECD:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

R&D:

Research and Development

S&P:

Standard & Poor’s

UK:

United Kingdom

US:

United States

WEF:

World Economic Forum

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  1. Institute for Sustainable Leadership & Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, NSW, 2060, Australia

    Harald Bergsteiner

  2. Institute for Sustainable Leadership & MGSM, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Gayle C. Avery

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Bergsteiner, H., Avery, G.C. When Ethics are Compromised by Ideology: The Global Competitiveness Report. J Bus Ethics 109, 391–410 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-1136-y

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