Dirty Goods

Part of the money you pay for goods may have found its way into the pocket of a corrupt government official.

By Brandon Peterson, Marketing —

Have you ever thought about where your cell phone came from? How about your computer or any of the consumer goods you use on a daily basis? Everything you purchase has gone through a complex, global supply chain. To get into your hands, these goods have likely passed through the bureaucracies of multiple nations. We usually don’t give this process a second thought, but part of the money you paid for these goods may have found its way into the pocket of a corrupt government official. This is especially true in the developing world where many of our consumer goods are sourced.

A Bribery World

Recently, governments have been stepping up to take a stand against bribery and corruption, and citizens have been expressing that corrupt behavior is unacceptable. For example, Ukraine’s recent ouster of its government was a result of the people protesting government corruption. The United Kingdom has implemented the UK Bribery Act, and the United States has reinstated laws from the 1970s designed to take down the mafia. These actions go beyond what has been done in the past, when anti-corruption laws were limited to government officials. A good example of this is the recent arrest of multiple prominent FIFA soccer officials on corruption charges.

Sourcing Practices

With these recent events in mind, corporations need to become more mindful of their sourcing practices. Consumer groups are beginning to make public the details of corruption infested supply chains, causing embarrassment to major companies who are then forced to clean up their supply chains. Excuses that worked in the past, such as ignorance of corruption in the supply chain, are becoming less acceptable. Still, money speaks, and unless individuals are willing to take a stand against corruption, this issue will continue to breed inefficiency and enrich those of small conscience. Companies need to do their part to clean up their supply chains by making it known to suppliers that bribery is unacceptable behavior.

Clever Combat

There are many ways to combat corruption in the supply chain, including legislation, watchdog groups, and monitoring technology. To assist in the fight against corruption, there is a new product called EyeDetect. This alternative to the traditional polygraph test takes less time to complete, is non-invasive, and delivers results fast and at much lower cost than a polygraph. Utilizing EyeDetect to screen potential job candidates or even government officials could go a long way in reducing the blight of corruption by detecting these individuals’ deception.

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Photo courtesy of Damian Gadal.