unit6researchintopopulationgenetics.pptVIP

UNIT 6 Bribery and business ethics Students (taking business courses) are sometimes a little surprised to find that classes (on business ethics) have been included in their schedule. 商科学生有时对课程里包含商业道德课略感吃惊。 They often do not realize that bribery (in various forms) is on the increase in many countries and, in some, has been a way of life for centuries. 他们通常没意识到在很多国家，形形色色的贿赂行为正日益增多。在某些国家，这已成为人们几百年来的一种生活方式。 Suppose that during a negotiation with some government officials, the Minister of Trade makes it clear to you that if you offer him a substantial bribe, you will find it much easier to get an import license for your goods, and you are also likely to avoid procedural delays, as he puts it. 假定在一场与政府官员的谈判中，贸易部长向你明确表示如能给他一大笔贿赂，那么你的商品拿到进口许可证就会容易得多，还可能避免他所说的“程序上的延误”。 Now, the question is: Do you pay up or stand by your principles? 现在的问题是：你是被迫掏钱呢，还是坚持原则？ It is easy to talk about having high moral standards but, in practice, what would one really do in such a situation? 高尚的道德标准说起来容易，但实际上人们在这种情况下究竟会怎么做呢？ Some time ago a British car manufacturer was accused of operating a fund to pay bribes, and of other questionable practices questionable practices (such as paying agents and purchasers an exaggerated commission, offering additional discounts, and making payments to numbered bank accounts in Switzerland.) 早些时候，一家英国汽车制造商被指控利用一笔基金行贿，并进行其他一些可疑运作，如给代理商和客户高额回扣、提供额外折扣、向一些在瑞士银行开的匿名账户汇款等。 The company rejected these charges and they were later withdrawn. 这家汽车公司否认了这些指控，后来指控也被撤销了。 Nevertheless, at that time, there were people in the motor industry in Britain (who were prepared to say in private: Look, were in a very competitive business.) 然而，当时英国汽车业里就有人准备私下里说：“瞧，我们这一行竞争激烈， If we spend a few million pounds to keep some of the buyers happy, whos hurt? 如果花几百万英镑能让一些客户高兴，谁会有损失呢？ It is difficult to resist the impression that bribery and other questionable payments are on the increase. 很容易产生这样的印象：贿赂以及其他可疑开支正日渐增多。 Indeed, they seem to have become a fact of commercial life. 的确