Bill Overview
Title: Corporate Crime Database Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to establish a public database of enforcement actions taken by federal agencies against businesses for corporate offenses.
Sponsors: Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by increased transparency and accountability in corporate practices worldwide
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The database will contain enforcement actions taken against businesses, directly impacting companies involved in corporate offenses.
- The transparency and accountability resulting from the database may affect corporate behavior by businesses globally.
- Consumers and investors could alter their decisions based on information from the database, impacting market dynamics and helping maintain corporate accountability.
- Legal professionals and researchers may use the database for improved analysis of corporate crime trends, affecting the legal and academic communities.
- The public access to this data could have far-reaching implications on public perception and pressure towards ethical business practices.
Reasoning
- The Corporate Crime Database Act may not directly impact all U.S. citizens, but it will significantly affect segments such as legal professionals, investors, and conscious consumers who are keen on ethical practices.
- Many businesses may alter practices to promote transparency and mitigate negative perceptions, indirectly improving experiences for employees and consumers involved with these companies.
- The immediate impact on wellbeing might primarily be psychological, derived from increased trust in corporate responsibility and reduced corporate crime.
- The policy is expected to encourage positive long-term economic effects by promoting ethical business practices and potentially reducing illicit corporate activities.
- The budget constraints suggest a limited scope for immediate full impact, but foundational steps laid out will potentially bear fruit in the long term.
Simulated Interviews
Investor (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a relief to see steps being taken to hold businesses accountable.
- This database will be fundamental in my decision-making process regarding where to invest.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Corporate Lawyer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an invaluable tool for the legal community to understand corporate behavior better.
- Having access to this detailed data will aid in more efficient, fact-based litigation processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graduate Student in Business Ethics (Austin, TX)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This database can greatly enhance my research quality and outreach efforts.
- I'm hopeful it will foster more responsible business practices across industries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Commercial Banker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While personally I may not use this database much, it signifies positive change.
- Keeping corporations in check is crucial for societal development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social Media Manager (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a consumer and professional, this database means I can make more informed brand partnerships.
- It empowers consumers with the knowledge of who they are supporting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This database aligns perfectly with the need for transparency.
- The data derived can help drive new public policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could level the playing field for small ethical businesses.
- Quality and ethics may now be more valued over sheer size and price.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Data transparency is critical in tech, and this database can serve as a great model.
- By spotlighting corporate misconduct, competition might shift towards more sustainable practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Consumer Rights Advocate (Boston, MA)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This provides ammunition against corporate fraud and will aid greatly in advocacy.
- The anticipated positive shift in corporate accountability is reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Economist (Denver, CO)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will provide a rich data source for studying market dynamics influenced by corporate transparency.
- I'm optimistic about the long-term economic benefits this could stimulate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $18000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $22000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $13000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- Successfully incorporating data from various federal agencies will be critical to the database's usefulness.
- Maintaining privacy and security of sensitive information will require comprehensive measures.
- Ensuring user-friendly access and proper public engagement strategies will be vital to maximizing the database's impact.
- The impact on corporate behavior may not be immediate; it is likely accumulative over time.
- Establishing clear guidelines and criteria for enforcement actions to be included in the database will be necessary.