Lectures in the coure of business ethics

Abstract

Business ethics play a fundamental role in promoting a culture of integrity within organizations by encouraging honesty, responsibility, and sound professional behavior. Corruption is a broad concept without a unified definition, as it appears in multiple forms and varies across contexts. It ranges from minor misconduct to the intentional misuse of economic or institutional resources for personal gain. Most academic literature defines corruption as the misuse of authority or a position—public or private—for personal benefit. As a global phenomenon, corruption affects countries differently but consistently leads to harmful consequences, including slowing development, wasting resources, and undermining economic and social stability. It may occur in both public and private institutions and is often associated with weak oversight and limited transparency. Efforts to combat corruption include strengthening ethical standards, updating laws, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and promoting awareness of proper professional conduct. Additional measures involve simplifying administrative procedures and increasing transparency through digital tools. Codes of ethics and strong accountability systems are essential for creating an environment capable of resisting corruption.