Abstract
Operating within a global competitive environment poses many problems for American firms. One question receiving only passing attention is how the ethical perceptions of consumers can impact the global operations of the firm. The conflict between domestic and non-domestic ethical norms as to the conduct of business operations has been the subject of governmental scrutiny. However, the impact of differences in consumer ethical norms has not been addressed. Understanding such differences may have relevance for decisions related to the workforce, plant location, and choice of vendors and/or distributors. The current study is designed to investigate the relationship between the consumer’s ideology and perceptions of ethical behavior.