Moral Reasoning in Public Service: Individual, Organizational, and Societal Determinants

Abstract

This study is to explore not only the moral reasoning of public administrators but also the determinants of moral reasoning and behavior in government. This study argues that information about the level of moral reasoning of public employees does not explain how to achieve ethical behavior in organizations. Systematic moral reasoning study and how it relates to other variables is needed. Although some research on moral reasoning exists, it generally focuses on the level of moral reasoning according to gender, race, education, age, and responsibility. The article concludes that the main factors influencing the moral reasoning public employees are the length of service, self-sacrifice, collaborative atmosphere, participative atmosphere, fairness, and ethical climate.