Measuring Progress

Abstract

Through our long experience in analyzing and evaluating multinational codes and the reasons for their relative success and failure, we are led to conclude that corporate efforts and proclamations concerning their codes of conduct are generally met with public skepticism and disbelief. Codes are often viewed as “hollow words” designed to assuage the public’s sense of moral outrage, and as little more than an exercise in public relations. These sentiments are not entirely without foundation, especially when one views the context in which such codes are often proposed and the scanty public disclosure companies provide concerning their actual compliance with the codes.