Research: Public Opinion Is Not Enough to Hold Companies Accountable

Despite the known moral and practical shortcomings of relying on a “business case” to justify doing the right thing, many organizations continue to act as if bottom-line profits — rather than ethical concerns — must drive all business decisions. In particular, some leaders have argued that the court of public opinion creates a reputational (and thus financial) cost to working with governments or business partners that may have committed human rights abuses. These financial motivations are sometimes implicitly treated as a stand-in for other mechanisms — such as legal requirements — to ensure that businesses respect human rights.