A Cross Cultural Comparison of Ethics in Turkey Versus the

United States

Maryam Azadi

IMS 3310
Professor: Shawn Carraher
Fall 2014
Introduction

A Cross Cultural Comparison of Ethics in Turkey Versus the United States

Abstract
Purpose - In todays business world ethics are gaining importance. Corruption, bribery,
tax fraud, deceptive advertising, and the production of unsafe products has peaked the
interest of the business world on the importance of business ethics in both Europe and the
United States. Within this paper we intend to examine and make a comparative analysis
of the ethical practices and cross-cultural differences in Turkey and the United States. We
will also focus on Turkeys recent implementation of the Ethics for the Prevention of
Corruption in Turkey (TYEC1) and the Project on Consolidating Ethics in the Public
Sector in Turkey (TYEC2).
Design/methodology/approach Compare and contrast ethics and cultural differences
in Turkey and the United States utilizing the Hofstede model, literature reviews, and
information provided by the Council of Europe.

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A Cross Cultural Comparison of Ethics in Turkey Versus the United States

Findings There are significant differences between cultures and the way ethics and
corruption are viewed in Turkey and the United States
Originality/value - The current study is original in that there is very little research
exploring the implementation of the Ethics for the Prevention of Corruption in Turkey
Project (TYEC) and the Project on Consolidating Ethics in the Public Sector in Turkey
(TYEC2) and its impacts on ethical conduct in Turkey. We contribute to the literature
by providing insights into specific Turkish industries, such as education, medical care,
and tourism where ethical behavior is of concern.
Key words - Ethics, Turkey, United States, TYEC 1, TYEC 2, Hofstede

Introduction
Ethics are the basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human
conduct. They include the study of universal values such as the essential equality of all
men and women, human or natural rights, obedience to the law of land, concern for
health and safety, and, increasingly, also for the natural environment (Business
Dictionary, 2014). In todays business world ethics are gaining importance as managers,
employees, consumers, and citizens face numerous ethical dilemmas as a part every day
life. In developing countries like Turkey, corruption, bribery, tax fraud, deceptive
advertising, and the production of unsafe products has peaked the interest of the business
world on the importance of business ethics in both Europe and the United States. In
Turkey the ethical climate in the business environment is at a critical stage, and the
business community as a whole is troubled by ethical problems (Ekin and Tezolmez,
1999).
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A Cross Cultural Comparison of Ethics in Turkey Versus the United States

In recent years the Turkish government has taken numerous steps in its attempt to
combat corruption. The country ratified the Council of Europes Civil and Criminal Law
Conventions against Corruption in 2003 and 2004 respectively and joined the Councils
Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) in January 2004. Moreover, in June 2004
the Council of Ethics for the Public Service was established and in 2005 the Regulation
on the Principles of Ethical Behaviour for Public Officials (the Code of Ethics) was
adopted (COE, n.d).
Literature Review
Ethics for the Prevention of Corruption in Turkey (TYEC 1)
Despite the measures listed above, corruption has remained a concern for Turkey.
With the aid of both the European Union and they Council of Europe Turkey
implemented the project on Ethics for the prevention of Corruption in Turkey (TYEC 1),
which was a 24 month project that started December of 2007 and ended in November of
2009. The overall objective of this project was to aid in the prevention of corruption in
Turkey in accordance with European and other international standards through the
implementation and extension of the Code of Conduct, and the development of
anticorruption measures.
With that being said, the TYEC 1 project had four major aims: 1. Support the
implementation of the Code of Ethics across the public administration in line with
GRECO recommendations; 2. Develop codes of ethics for other categories of officials or
holders of public office; 3. Develop systems of monitoring the effectiveness of prevention

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and other anti-corruption measures; and 4. Ensure and enhance coordination of anticorruption measures (COE, n.d).
The completion of the project resulted in the following (COE, n.d):

The staff of the Council of Ethics for Public Service were trained to promote

ethical codes and ways to prevent corruption.

A training package was completed to support ethics training of public officials.
At least 110 trainers were trained and were able to deliver ethics training.
Governors, deputy governors, district governors, mayors, deputy mayors,
members of ethics commissions of all in 81 provinces were trained in the
application of the code of ethics for public officials (With 10 training events held,

a total of 388 participants were trained).

10 academic quality studies in ethically sensitive areas of Turkey were completed.
o 1. Conflict of Interest in Public Administration
o 2. Public Bidding and Ethics
o 3. Planning at Local Level
o 4. Ethical Conduct in Law Enforcement
o 5. Ethical Conduct in the Health Services
o 6. Ethical Standards and the Title/Land Registry
o 7. The Shadow Economy
o 8. Professional Associations and Ethics
o 9. Ethics and the Customs Services
o 10. Ethics, Culture, and Society

Consolidating Ethics in the Public Sector in Turkey (TYEC 2)

After the successful implementation of the TYEC 1 an agreement was signed in
December of 2010 to begin the TYEC 2 project, Consolidating Ethics in the Public
Sector in Turkey. The final report of the TYEC 1 project identified a number of issues
that still needed be addressed in the field of ethics and prevention of corruption (COE,
n.d). The report recommended further training of trainers in the Turkish public sector,
strengthening and developing the capacities of the Ethics Commissions to implement the
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Regulation on the Principles of Ethics Behaviour of the Public Officials and Application
Procedures and Essentials, and enhancing public awareness not only on the role of ethics
in the public sector but also on the implementation of ethical standards in daily contacts
with public officials (COE, 2012). TYEC 2 basically involves the development of action
plans for ministries to implement the research findings from the ten research studies
developed in TYEC 1.
The main objectives of TYEC 2 are to (Hickey, 2013):

Embed and consolidate the work from the first project, TYEC 1:
o Support for the consolidation of code of conduct for selected professional
associations and the chambers of commerce and industry
o About 200 trainers from central and local government will be trained to

deliver ethics training;

Create Awareness:
o Develop prevention of corruption awareness campaigns in ministries,
schools, universities, and the public in general
o Extend ethics training and prevention of corruption awareness;
o Focus on key ministries and areas to develop prevention strategies on
corruption and unethical behaviors
Implementation is still under way and is scheduled for completion March 30,

2014. While TYEC is building on the past success of TYEC 1 it is also a link to other
projects currently under way in Turkey. There will be another Council of Europe project
between 2013-16 Fostering Cooperation among NGOs, Public and Private Sectors for
Ethics. TYEC 2 will aid in laying down the foundation for this future endeavor.
Turkish Ethics in Education, Tourism, and Health Care

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Turkey is quickly becoming a top player in the emerging markets. According to
Invest in Turkey, a division of the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry, the Turkish
economy has shown significant growth in the last decade. The GDP for this region has
also seen vast improvements between 2002 and 2012. A lot of the success in structural
reforms has allowed Turkey to revamp their private sector, make the financial sector
more efficient, and set a solid foundation for social security (Invest in Turkey).
Although, Turkey still lies heavily on foreign investors support and capital inflows, the
political unrest in the country is a major hurdle in keeping the index elevated (Ankara,
2013). Changes still need to be made to make Turkey the powerhouse it wants to
become. Some of the structural weaknesses it faces are corruption, poor education and
low presence of females in the workforce. It will take lots of reinvesting in these areas
to make adequate reforms. However, the recent protests suggest that these reforms will
be costly and met with opposition. (Ankara, 2013)
In addition to structural reform, Turkey must keep pace with industry. One of the
leading industries playing a vital role to financial gain is tourism. In 1963, the Ministry
of Tourism was founded to represent the industry as the source for all policy planning and
coordination of tourism establishments within the country. ( Duman & Kozak, 2010).
In keeping with the value system strong to the Turkish culture, tourism is often based on
promoting historical locations and attractions, of which Turkey is rich in both. Keeping
the emphasis on the natural beauty and culture are important to maintaining the values of
the society. Cultural and history tours are on the rise according to a study cited by
Duman and Kozak.

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Ethical Tourism, a new term that is emerging in the tourism industry, suggests that
a tourist location should offer benefits to both the people and also the environment of
those destinations. (Ethical Tourism) Sustainability or the going green initiative that
has become vastly popular over the last few years is one aspect of the ethical tourism
movement. It also includes considering locations as a destination where ethical issues
are the key driver, e.g. social injustice, human rights, animal welfare or the environment
(Ethical Tourism). Turkey is not without those issues. Although the historical and
cultural richness of the area is present, the past decade has shown an increased demand
for better quality environmental experiences and unique destinations. The lack of
improving on facilities and higher costs to operate, place the Mediterranean destinations
in jeopardy. The key to success will rely heavily on ethical planning and an aggressive
marketing campaign (Duman & Kozak, 2010).
Another key factor to the continued development of Turkey in the emerging
markets is education.

It is a country that has been weak in producing a quality

education system. The last decade has leant extensive reforms to the Turkish educational
system. Turkey has invested in expanding the number of schools, improving on quality,
and adding technological advances to the classrooms (Invest in Turkey). However,
ethics is a struggle is most education infrastructures. Teachers are an important part of
this infrastructure and they should be aware of the responsibilities they have as educators
to develop students properly. Basically, they should be aware of their ethical
responsibilities to the students (Akcay, 2008). During their pre-service education,
teachers are educated on ethics and ethical codes. They are to develop ethical principles
and apply to circumstances as they arise (Gokce, 2013).
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The use of technology is a gateway to possible ethical dilemma. It makes gaining
access to information easier, yet it could make it easier for the student to cheat.
However, a personal value system within the individuals plays an important part in the
determination of whether that individual will cross that boundary. According to Sidani,
et.al,; Hofstede (1984) research characterized Turkey as high in uncertainty avoidance.
(Sidani, Rawwas, Bunker, Vitell, 2010). In other words, Turkish people tend to stay true
to the rules and are less likely to make unethical choices. A survey conducted using 117
volunteer teachers, by Gocke and using a modified Multidimensional Ethics Scale, shows
several things. The teachers themselves, rate high in ethical awareness, their values
affect their evaluations, and they were not likely to take part in unethical behavior
(Gokce, 2013).

In a separate study, though those students scoring high in uncertainty

avoidance, did partake in deviant behavior tended to be younger and male. Transversely,
older female students who scored higher in idealism, found dishonesty unacceptable.
(Sidani, Rawwas, Bunker, Vitell, 2010).
A different tourism industry emerging is medical tourism. The trend of receiving
healthcare abroad has grown significantly in recent years. Increasing healthcare costs are
driving Americans and Europeans to seek alternatives. They are seeking less expensive
healthcare in other countries. Turkey is able to give comparable care and treatment
(Research and Markets, 2013 Abstract). However, is the ethical treatment of patients
comparable to their home country?
Healthcare in Turkey has undergone some transformation since the state
Healthcare Transformation Program was established. The state began to supervise both
the private and public healthcare systems and control rising costs (Sur & Cekin, 2012).
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The ethical care of the elderly has of recent come under more scrutiny. The elderly do
not qualify for a special status where the insurance system is regarded. In Turkey, there
are three types of policies that will dictate which kind of service they will receive.
Depending on the socio-economic status they belong too and the policy they are covered
by, they would have to attend either a social security hospital, public hospital, or private
hospital. It was not until 2003, that some private hospitals had the option to accept
patients carrying public or state insurance policies (Dogan and Deger, 2004).
Adequate care by qualified physicians is a primary concern. The Ministry of
Health is making attempts to limit where a licensed physician can work. They are trying
to limit a doctor from working in both the private and public sectors. This in itself causes
ethical issues to arise. With the restrictions in place, patients in a study done by Sur and
Cekin, show that physicians began taking or even demanding additional compensation to
have better access to their physician and cover the cost of medical supplies used. It was
also noted that the physicians, based on their own socio-economic status had varying
opinions about the change. They often noted the insufficient personal rights,
negativities associated with working conditions,.and they were not compensated
sufficiently for additional work(Sur& Cekin,2012).

With the corruption present

in the medical field, are the elderly paying the price?

In 2004, 6% of the Turkish population were 65 or older, according to census. In
Turkish society, the elderly were well respected and taking care of them in their older
years was a standard amongst social normality. Family members are usually the primary
caretakers, as there are insufficient numbers of nursing homes or health establishments
that are specific to providing care to the elderly. Medical professionals that care for the
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elderly are often faced with ethical issues such as maintaining their dignity, capacity, and
autonomy (Dogan & Deger, 2004). Other factors are euthanasia, age discrimination, and
high risk of neglect (Kadioglu, Can, Nazik, & Kadioglu).
In a study conducted by Dogan and Deger, interviewing 100 elderly patients, the
patients clearly felt that the care provided was poor and that the staff did not respect their
dignity. The study also noted the elderly had a primary concern of fifty-five percent
towards autonomy. More than half of the nurses interviewed stated they take issue with
caring for the elderly most because of the problems associated with dealing with
relatives. The social aspect of family value, and having relatives question and judge
their work makes it difficult to give adequate care. (Dogan & Deger) The ethical debate
in regards to cost of care and physician behavior was surveyed by Sur & Cekin. The
survey identified that nurses have witnessed the illegal prescribing or prescriptions to
patients for the purpose of helping those companies make more money. Pharmacists
complained that there was not enough punishment or fines for those physicians that do
decide to engage in unethical financial gains. (Sur & Cekin, 2012)
In conclusion, the endless ethical debate with regards to elderly care, is
documented that the elderly desire mostly to have a say in their care, prefer to not be
hospitalized, and feel that the healthcare as it stands is not sufficient. New ethical
approaches and healthcare structure are needed. It is also noted that ethical boards need
to be established and ethical training for nurses and physicians alike are of the utmost
importance (Dogan & Deger, 2004).
Ethics in the United States

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The US is looked upon to lead the way when it comes to foreign policy. The
United States passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; it was enacted for the
purpose of creating a level playing field. The bribery of foreign government officials to
obtaining or retain business would now be illegal. The United States continued the fight
against corruption by encouraging other Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) countries to adopt legislation similar to its own law. The OECD
Anti-Bribery Convention was signed in 1997, becoming the gold standard in the fight
against corruption.
On our soil the United States still holds our citizens to a high level when it comes
to business ethics. With Americans being driven and competitive we sometimes reject to
morals or ethics we hold so high. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation there
are 726 corporate fraud cases being pursued throughout the United States, several of
which involved losses to public investors that individually exceed $1 billion. (FBI,
2010-2011) The Better Business Bureau was also created to help the citizen from
becoming preyed upon.
Unlike Turkey the United States main problem is how to continue to stay atop of
the worlds markets. Although the past decade has provided many challenges within the
country, one of our biggest issues is the slow growth of our GDP. Real GDP increased
1.9 percent from 2012 annual level to the 2013 annual level, compared with an increase
of 2.8 percent in 2012 according to Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S. Bureau of
Economic Analysis, 2014). The largest reform policy is that of the health care system.
The United States is similar to Turkey in that it also has issues with corruption, education,

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and the pay differential from male to female these issues do not garner the same attention
as health care reform.
American Ethics in Education, Tourism, and Health Care
Tourism in America, according to the current forecast, should see 3.4 percent to
4.3 percent annual growth rates in visitor volume over the 2013-2018 timeframe. (U.S.
Department of Commerce, 2013) The United States does not have the history of Turkey
but it does have the political stability and a stable economy that gives the worlds growing
middle class a safe place to spend their money. Ethical tours are growing in popularity
but only because the idea of going green has been popular in America.
Unethical events have occurred within the United States educational system but
most of these events were not due to a lack of training. Schools are state funded so
individual states implement ethical training requirements with their school systems. A
good majority of the ethical training requirements are universal amongst states and are
also reiterated by The Association of American Educators and other organizations. The
United States is unique as there is a high level of diversity with the teachers seen in the
class room. Ethical training such as the Texas Education Agency modules for ethics
training can save schools from lawsuits they cannot afford. (Texas Education Agency,
2014)
Turkeys problem with technology and cheating is also seen in the United States.
With technology advancing so quickly the teacher must now make a lesson plan that will
minimize cheating and must also be aware of innovative ways in which the student will

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try to cheat. This new type of focus required of the instructor will change the facultystudent relationship to more of a criminal-police relationship. (Gallant, Tricia, 2008)
According to the Ethical Position Questionnaire of Forsyth the United States is
near the median of relativism and idealism, and ideology on moral judgments (Forsyth,
Donelson). America is such a masculine culture and if cheating will help a student get
ahead then a situational approach is then our view on moral judgment on cheating.
In the United States we consider ourselves exceedingly ethical when it comes to
health care. We believe every individual is deserving of medical treatment. We created
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), in hopes of providing medical
treatment for all without putting the U.S. deficit in further despair. These provisions
create a framework to reform the U.S. health care system to focus on prevention and
wellness and to improve the public health(Majette, Gwendolyn, 2011). Like Turkey age
discrimination is relevant in the USA, but so is race and gender. The biggest issue with
medical care is the ability for every American to afford and obtain it. We are a capitalistic
country so if you have the money they have the medicine available to you. Medicare has
helped the U.S. improve its moral compass by providing medical care to those with lower
incomes, the disabled, as well as the elderly. The goal of the health care system is to
ensure equal access to health care services and stop citizens from falling into poverty
as a result of catastrophic expenses (Blewett, Lynn A. 2009)
Cultural Differences
The cultural differences between the United States of America and Turkey are
significantly great. To help discuss these cultural differences and analyze them, the

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Hofstede dimensions from the Hofstede model will be utilized. There are five
dimensions that will be used to evaluate the cultural differences between the two
countries. They are power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance,
and long-term orientation.
We start with power distance. The general definition of power distance is the
extent to which less powerful members of a culture expect and accept that power is
distributed unequally. Turkey has traditionally been a high power distance country.
People have been addressing their superiors by their formal titles, such as Dr., Professor
etc. People usually expect for their superiors to maintain control and there is less
assertiveness. People in authority are the ones whose decisions are usually followed and
respected, with no input allowed form regular employees. However, the power distance
of Turkey has been going down over time, and this could be that is the result of more than
eighty years of re-orientation towards the western culture (Daller, 2006; Yildiz, 2006).
In the United States, power distance is very low compared with Turkey. In
America, decision making can be derived from input of all levels of hierarchy.
Companies are usually open to expertise from employees and information is freely shared
among bosses and employees for the good of the company. Many employees refer to
their bosses by their first names instead of a more formal title. Superiors are usually
accessible for their subordinates, although a chain of command usually has to be
followed, but nonetheless, a door is always open to discuss problems or improvements,
something not seen commonly in high power countries.

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The next dimension to discuss of the Hofstede model is individualism.
Individualism is the idea that the identity of an individual is fundamentally his or her
own. In individualistic societies, peoples self-image is seen more as I. Where in a
collectivist society, self-image is seen more in the we context.
In the United States, people live in a very individualistic society. Everyone is out
for their own self-interest. Young people are very much in a hurry to leave home when
they turn eighteen. If they live at home with their parents for too long, they worry about
how it will look on them as an individual. In other countries where it is a collectivism
society, people usually stay at home longer to have a tight bond with their family until
they get married. It is not uncommon to see people in their late twenties still living at
home. It is seen as normal. People are also usually served food on individual style plates
with individual portions, where in collectivistic countries, sometimes people are served in
one large plate for a group to share from.
Individualism in Turkey is low. People value community lifestyle, such as family,
organizations, groups. Competition and intense pursuit of interests that are individualistic
are less common or desirable, instead values regarding personal relationships are group
oriented (Ma, 2010; Erkus, 2010; Tabak, 2010). If a persons decision is responsible for
a groups success, the whole group will take the glory. If the person is responsible for the
groups failure, then the group as a whole takes the blame. In addition, since Turkey is
big on collectivism of the group, it works hard to keep the peace. Turks prefer
accommodating, compromising, and avoiding conflicting situations in order to maintain
the harmony of the group (Ma, 2010; Erkus, 2010; Tabak, 2010).

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The third dimension in the Hofstede model is masculinity. Masculinity is a
relatively strong form of societal-level sex-role differentiation whereby men tend to have
occupations that reward assertiveness and women tend to work in caring professions.
The United States is very high on masculinity. We are very high on competition
and success. Money and business usually comes before family values. In addition, men
are usually the ones that are the main providers and take on jobs traditionally occupied by
men. When women take on similar jobs, they are usually paid less than their male
counterparts. Also, you hear a lot about stay at home moms, but dont hear a lot about
stay at home husbands even though they do exist. In Sweden, house husbands are very
common, so there is no shame in their society as far as that aspect.
Even though Turkish masculinity is low, the country does have a tendency to be
more on the feminine side. The Turkish value leisure and family time more so than the
aggressive time-is-money mentality. It has a slow, more relaxed way of looking at life. It
is usually family first, work second, then material items. Also, Turkeys efforts to
become a member of the European Union are influencing gender roles (Lease, 2013).
Turkeys prime minister from 1993 to 1996 was a female, which is uncommon in a
Muslim country. Recent empirical studies on gender roles suggest that Turkish society is
experiencing a transition to more egalitarian gender roles (Lease, 2103). During the
process for membership in the European Union, Turkey has undergone a significant
number of social, economic, and political reforms, including modifying the Civil Code to
raise gender equality in the country (Lease, 2013).

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The fourth dimension in the Hofstede model is uncertainty avoidance.
Uncertainty avoidance is the extent to which members of a culture accept or avoid
ambiguous situations or uncertainty. The United States scores relatively low on
uncertainty avoidance. We are a country of people that are willing to take risks to get
ahead or to score big. Americans are more likely to change jobs every few years in order
to expand their expertise and build their resumes and professional profiles. Most
Americans are willing to step out of their comfort zones for the chance to make a lot of
money.
In Turkey, uncertainty avoidance cultural norms predominate (Gurbuz, 2011; Mert
2011). However, this has started to decline slowly over the years due to the fact that
Turkish business people have become used to uncertain, unstable, economic conditions
and have adapted their business careers accordingly (Sprangers, 2009; Ucer, 2009).
The last dimension to discuss in the Hofstede model is long-term orientation.
Long-term orientation is a perspective that emphasizes perseverance and savings for
future betterment. The United States is not a long-term orientation country, it is a shortterm. For example, Americans usually seek immediate stability and income. Americans
typically seek convenience and want results right away.
Turkey is a long-term orientation country. There is this tradition in Turkey that
when people have extra money saved, they dont put in a bank. Instead, they invest that
money into a major fixer upper house. Then when they have more money, they invest
again into that same house. This will happen over the course of several years or a couple
decades, until they finally sell the house.

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Conclusion
According to Hofstede, ethical values are a vital component of culture. They are
fundamental convictions that people within a society have regarding what is right and
what is wrong. With Turkey still seeking accession into the European Union it is
important to get a hold on corruption and unethical behavior within their government and
in business.
With the help of the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (COE)
Turkey has taken great strides to combat corruption with the recent implementation of the
Ethics for the Prevention of Corruption in Turkey (TYEC 1), the Project on Consolidating
Ethics in the Public Sector in Turkey (TYEC 2), and the current project of Fostering
Cooperation among NGOs, Public and Private Sectors for Ethics. The launch of such
programs has been successful however Turkish society would benefit from greater civil
society involvement in updating and enforcing these strategies as well as continuous
monitoring of them to ensure continued success of minimizing corruption in Turkey in
the future.
Suggestions for Future Research
The Project on Consolidating Ethics in the Public Sector in Turkey (TYEC 2) and
the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan are near completion. Further
research on the success or failure of the project and its positive and or negative effects on
ethical behavior and corruption will be beneficial to Turkey and the Council of Europes
future project, Fostering Cooperation among NGOs, Public and Private Sectors for
Ethics. Working groups that report to the Ministerial Committee overseeing
implementation, have suggested the need to conduct an annual country-wide corruption
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perception surveys as well as establishing a comprehensive method to track specific data
on corruption. If this is achieved there will be data readily available for further analysis
on the success and or failures of the recent projects on ethics and corruption in Turkey.

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