The Moral Responsibilities

of Policy Professionals

Mark Carl Rom

Professional Ethics

The ethics of:> Individual responsibility (i.e., the problems

of ‘many hands’)> Administrative discretion> Policy advising

Mark Carl Rom

Professional Ethics

Two main possibilities for reform:> Improve individual ethics

• Inculcate ethical values through training

> Improve ethical systems• Create standards that support and enforce

ethical decisions

Mark Carl Rom

Moral Responsibility of Public Officials (Thompson)

What is the problem of many hands?> Collective responsibility> Hierarchical responsibility

When do individuals bear responsibility?> Your actions or omissions cause the outcome> Your actions/omissions are not done through

compulsions or ignorance Question: Did McNamara fulfill his collective

and hierarchical responsibilities?

Mark Carl Rom

The Ethics of Discretion (Warwick) Question: How should you make decisions

given administrative discretion?> Public orientation> Reflective choice> Veracity> Procedural respect> Restraint on means

Question: What is the ‘public good’ Question: Did McNamara use administrative

discretion wisely?

Mark Carl Rom

Ethics of Administrative Discretion (Thompson)

Ethics of neutrality> Administrators should follow principles of

organization, not their own principles?• No: Exit, loyalty, voice or resistance

Ethics of structure> Organization, not administrators, should be

responsible for policies?• No: Moral culpability of individuals

Did McNamara follow the ethics of neutrality and structure?

Mark Carl Rom

The Moral Responsibility of Policy Advisors (McPherson)

What obligations do advisors have?> To serve superiors honestly> To promote better policies> To respect and improve democratic processes

Question: Did McNamara fulfill his moral responsibilities as an advisor?

Mark Carl Rom

Ethical Responsibilities: Conclusions

Should we work to improve> Individuals?> Systems?> Both? If so, which one deserves our highest

priority? Note…ethical perfection is not possible…

but progress towards it is.