The THE EVALUATION OF THE PERCEPTION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF ETHICAL CODES FOR THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC INTEGRITY POLICIES: A CRIMINOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR THE EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT OF THE CATALAN PUBLIC SERVICE CODE OF ETHICS

Abstract

Public sector reform efforts to combat corruption and, in this case, unethical behaviour, have focused on control and compliance measures, including the adoption of formal ethical codes, despite the little consensus on their effectiveness. Albeit it has received little attention, the criminological perspective has much to contribute to explaining and preventing unethical (and corrupt) behaviour. In this sense, this research is carried out by means of a survey, based on the theoretical and experimental findings of bibliography from various disciplines, with special consideration of criminological approaches, aimed at public employees of the Catalan autonomous administration (Generalitat of Catalonia) (n = 6,451). The aim is to study the perception of effectiveness of the Catalan Public Service Code of Ethics (2021) and to determine, in light of the results, lines of improvement of the public integrity policy. The results show the limited (and almost symbolic) effect that ethical codes have on the perception of effectiveness in preventing unethical behaviour, in comparison with the explanatory potential of criminological teories, such as situational prevention, general strain theory, differential association or neutralisation techniques; in such a way that it is possible to identify specific limitations and foreseeably effective proposals for improving the ethical climate and regulatory compliance in the public sector.