Abstract
This report clarifies some important results of a survey on business ethics conducted by the Kansai Economic Federation in 1998 - on institutionalizing business ethics and business people's sense of morality.First the report sheds light on recent development of business ethics institutionalized in Japanese corporations. According to the survey, the number of corporations which have already adopted code of ethics/conduct or guideline, has increased in the last three years, while many of them are still having difficulties in applying those ethical rules to daily business context. Second, it shows that ethical perception by business people varies depending on their age, sex, organizational rank, and degree of their understanding of those rules.With these findings in mind, we conclude that, in order for business to take ethics seriously, it is necessary to establish new organizational and social environments, under which ethical corporations are fairly appreciated and rewarded.
