Science Café
PLEASE NOTE: this lecture will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month
Does ‘naming and shaming’ influence corporate behavior?
speaker: Prof. Judith van Erp
Air pollution from Tata Steel, PFAS discharges by Chemours, labor exploitation by rogue employment agencies, and tax avoidance by multinationals. It is no longer a surprise that companies can commit crimes. But while 'ordinary' criminals often face prison time, corporate violations are frequently met with only a warning or, at most, a fine. The argument is that negative publicity and reputational damage are punishment enough. But is that really the case?
Environmental and human rights organizations actively run ‘naming and shaming’ campaigns against harmful corporate behavior. By exposing misconduct and generating media attention, they hope not only to damage a company's reputation but also to encourage more responsible behavior. Companies are also frequently pilloried on social media. For example, influential Western consumers can condemn harmful corporate practices in the Global South. Recently, however, ‘naming and shaming’ has also become a tool for conservatives to push back against ‘woke’ culture within companies, turning it into a weapon in a culture war.
Prof. Judith van Erp, Professor of Regulatory Governance at Utrecht University, is working on a book about the ‘naming and shaming’ of companies. At the Science Café, she will present insights from her research. Does ‘naming and shaming’ actually lead to reputational damage? Can it get out of hand? Should the government do more of it? What is our own role as consumers? Van Erp looks forward to discussing these questions with the audience.
Live music will be provided by Dubio, and the moderator is Almar Otten.
