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Corporate Reputation’s Invisible Hand: Bribery, Rational Choice, and Market Penalties

Author

Listed:
  • Vijay S. Sampath

    (City U. of New York)

  • Naomi A. Gardberg

    (City U. of New York)

  • Noushi Rahman

    (Pace University)

Abstract

Drawing upon rational choice and investor attention theories, we examine how accusations of corporate bribery and subsequent investigations shape market reactions. Using event study methodology to measure loss in firm value for public firms facing bribery investigations from 1978 to 2010, we found that total market penalties amounted to $60.61 billion. We ran moderated multiple regression analysis to examine further the degree to which the unique characteristics of bribery explain variations in market penalties. Companies committing bribery in less corrupt host countries and with the involvement of compromised executives experienced greater market penalties than did other companies. After partitioning share value losses into components for regulatory penalties, class action settlements, and loss to reputation, we found that reputational penalties account for 81.8¢ of every dollar of share value loss. Omission of reputational penalties in rational choice calculus underestimates bribery costs by 4.5 times. The results suggest that firms should not underestimate the importance of market-imposed reputational penalties by merely considering regulator-imposed fines and sanctions.

Suggested Citation

  • Vijay S. Sampath & Naomi A. Gardberg & Noushi Rahman, 2018. "Corporate Reputation’s Invisible Hand: Bribery, Rational Choice, and Market Penalties," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(3), pages 743-760, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:151:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3242-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3242-3
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    6. Olczak, Wioleta, 2021. "The foreign corrupt practices act: How investors respond when violation severity and corresponding penalty (mis)match," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
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    8. Stelios Zyglidopoulos, 2021. "On Becoming and Being an Ethical Leader: A Platonic Interpretation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 1-11, September.
    9. Michael A. Sartor & Paul W. Beamish, 2020. "Private Sector Corruption, Public Sector Corruption and the Organizational Structure of Foreign Subsidiaries," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(4), pages 725-744, December.
    10. Harjoto, Maretno A. & Hoepner, Andreas G.F. & Li, Qian, 2021. "Corporate social irresponsibility and portfolio performance: A cross-national study," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
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    12. Yan-Leung Cheung & P. Raghavendra Rau & Aris Stouraitis, 2021. "What Determines the Return to Bribery? Evidence from Corruption Cases Worldwide," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(10), pages 6235-6265, October.

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