Skip to main content
Log in

Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Business Ethics: Evidence from the United States and China

Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A number of empirical studies have examined business ethics across cultures, focusing primarily on differences in ethical profiles between cultures and groups. When managers consider whether or not to develop a business relationship with those from a different culture, their decision may be affected by actual differences in ethical profiles, but potentially even more so by their perceptions of ethicality in the counterpart culture. The latter issue has been largely ignored in extant empirical research regarding cross-cultural ethical profiles. In this study, we employ a design that allows for a more complete analysis of cross-cultural perspectives, examining both the manner in which selected cultures view themselves and the manner in which those same cultures perceive the ethical profiles of others. To this end, we surveyed master’s students in business fields at several universities in the United States and China—two countries/cultures that engage in a significant amount of business transactions—and examined differences in personal ethical profiles across cultures, differences in one group’s ethical profile and the way it is perceived by the other group, and differences in perceived ethical profiles across cultures; that is, differences in how groups view each other. Findings suggest meaningful discrepancies in the ethical perceptions formed toward the counterpart culture. Results support a role for ethical perceptions in future research, and further examination and inquiry into the development and adaptation of ethical perceptions in cross-cultural business dealings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. In prior research, master’s or undergraduate business students are frequently used a proxy for business professionals.

  2. i.e., A “more ethical” response is a higher number for some and a lower number for others.

  3. This should reduce the likelihood that a participant falls into an answer pattern.

  4. For example, you and I have the same underlying level of agreement with a question, but you rate it as a seven and I rate it as a five.

References

  • Ahmed, M., Chung, K., & Eichenseher, J. (2003). Business students’ perceptions of ethics and moral judgment: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Business Ethics, 43, 89–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attia, A., Shankarmahesh, M., & Singhapakdi, A. (1999). Marketing ethics: A comparison of American and middle-eastern marketers. International Business Review, 8, 611–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Axinn, C., Blair, M., Heorhiadi, A., & Thach, S. (2004). Comparing ethical ideologies across cultures. Journal of Business Ethics, 54, 103–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cagle, J., Glasgo, P., & Holmes, V. (2008). Using ethics vignettes in introductory finance classes: Impact on ethical perceptions of undergraduate business students. Journal of Education for Business, 84, 76–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christie, P., Kwon, I., Stoeberl, P., & Baumhart, R. (2003). A cross-cultural comparison of ethical attitudes of business managers: India, Korea and the United States. Journal of Business Ethics, 46, 263–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillman, D., Smyth, J., & Christian, L. (2009). Internet, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, W., & Hensher, D. (2010). Modeling ordered choices: A primer. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, T. (1991). Ethical decision making by individuals in organizations: An issue-contingent model. Academy of Management Review, 16, 365–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, J., Berry, K., & Deshpande, S. (2009). Impact of emotional intelligence and other factors on perception of ethical behavior of peers. Journal of Business Ethics, 89, 539–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karande, K., Shankarmahesh, H., Rao, C., & Rashid, M. (2000). Perceived moral intensity, ethical perception, and ethical intention of American and Malaysian managers: A comparative study. International Business Review, 9, 37–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, G., Murray, C., Salomon, J., & Tandon, A. (2004). Enhancing the validity and cross-cultural comparability of measurement in survey research. American Political Science Review, 98, 191–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludlum, M., & Mascaloinov, S. (2004). Right and wrong and cultural diversity: Replication of the 2002 NAS/Zogby poll on business ethics. The Journal of Education for Business, 79, 294–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Persons, O. (2009). Using corporate code of ethics to assess students’ ethicality: Implications for business education. Journal of Education for Business, 84, 357–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rashid, M., & Ho, J. (2003). Perceptions of business ethics in a multicultural community: The case of Malaysia. Journal of Business Ethics, 43, 75–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singhapakdi, A., Vitell, S., & Kraft, K. (1996). Moral intensity and ethical decision-making of marketing professionals. Journal of Business Ethics, 36, 245–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soubbotina, T. (2004). Beyond economic growth: An introduction to sustainable development. Washington, DC: The World Bank. Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/beyond/global/beg-en.html. Accessed 25 Jan 2012.

  • Taylor, S. (2004). Music piracy: Differences in the ethical perceptions of business majors and music business majors. Journal of Education for Business, 79, 306–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank every student who participated in the survey, all the professors who allowed us access to their students, and William McPherson and Chung-Shing Lee for valuable assistance with data collection. We are grateful for the extremely helpful comments and suggestions from conference participants at the 3rd World Business Ethics Forum, seminar participants at the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University, and two anonymous referees. Any remaining errors are our own.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul Gift.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gift, M.J., Gift, P. & Zheng, Q. Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Business Ethics: Evidence from the United States and China . J Bus Ethics 114, 633–642 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1709-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1709-z

Keywords

Navigation