The value in values

摘要

A short while ago I was invited to take part in a debate entitled 'Can ethics survive the recession?' The opening argument was straight to the point: in a recession, won't spending on corporate responsibility get cut to the bone - the treatment normally meted out to training and research budgets in tough times? Or, almost as bad, would it not be confined to the PR department while the rest of the business got on with earning profits for the shareholders, who are increasingly concerned with short-term results. As someone put it: "Is sustainability sustainable?"rnThere is a marked contrast between this challenge to progress on business ethics and the uplifting sentiments emerging from our political leaders, particularly from newly elected US President Barack Obama, intent on bringing the world out of recession and embedding higher standards of behaviour.