Ethical Changes

Ethical changes arise in different forms across different cultural, economic and geographical areas. This case study raises a question on whether China, U.S., and Jamaica, three significantly cultures, will have similar responses on five business scenarios. Business managers from each country were presented with situations. Managers were then asked how likely they would take action when an ethical dilemma arose. The researchers concluded both similarities and distinct differences that can be attributed to cultural variations between the three countries.

The participants were presented with five business scenarios to gauge their ethical positions with each circumstance. Out of the five scenarios, only one had a statistically significant difference in the managers' preconception. The scenario with the significant difference deals with Jamaica willing to tolerate more violations of pollution to pursue profitable ventures. The American and the Chinese participants were less willing to engage in the pollution to gain a profit. The pressure of a better economy is much higher for the country of Jamaica than the other two countries which may affect its rationalization to emerge a growing economy despite environmental factors.

Positive and Normative economics are found in this article written by Fok and her colleagues. One positive economical statement includes the statistical presentation of the similarity and variation between the groups of each country. Fok and her colleagues used several different techniques to analyze the statistical data. These techniques include the following: Sum of Squares, Mean, and Standard Deviation. These statements are considered positive economics because it provides factual information.

The article also includes normative economic statements. For example, the article provides conclusions about the reasons for certain responses such as the inference that the Chinese are more open to considering ethical issues because of their desire to engage in global markets. This statement is not a fact, therefore, it is considered apart of normative economics.

Market efficiency, economizing, and the market system may affect these ethical issues in some shape or form. Jamaica is a place where resources are scarce due to geographical constraints, which means someone may find their efficient use increasingly valuable. In the United States, the capitalist market system is the basis for the entire economy, so people may expect the managers' answers to be more self-serving in their answers. In China, a communist government controls the majority of resources and properly economizes those resources the way that they want to or in a way that they feel it will benefit the country.

This article provides desirable insight to the possible variations in ethical values among three countries with different economies. One insight deals with China's managers citing a company's responsibility