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Presenter: Robert Bird, University of Connecticut School of Business

Discussant: Gastón de los Reyes, Glasgow Caledonian New York College

A harmful byproduct of the global economy is the proliferation of abuses in global supply chains. Too often lead firms and suppliers do not effectively collaborate. Lead firms require human rights and sustainability standards while also demanding extremely low cost goods and fast production deadlines. Suppliers faced with the impossible choice of financial survival or compliance with ethical standards, attempt to evade lead firm demands. The result is an illusion of governance that prioritizes investigations over actual changes and perpetuates “slow violence” against local environments and vulnerable populations.

To respond to this problem, this manuscript proposes a new paradigm I call ‘contractual deterrence.’ Contractual deterrence leverages a centuries-old theory of criminal deterrence, reinterprets it to incorporate a modern understanding of sanctions and rewards, and applies the theory to the contractual context of the modern global supply chain. Contractual deterrence is based upon three prongs: that enforcement of ethical supply chain standards must be predictably certain, equitably significant, and swiftly implementable. This manuscript explores these prongs and shows how the theory advances sustainability and human rights literatures. This manuscript also argues for a new multistakeholder theory of social responsibility that challenges western-dominated thinking and encourages a joint and equal partnership between lead firm and supplier in order to address pressing problems facing supply chains today.

The Business and Human Rights Workshop is dedicated to the development and discussion of works-in-progress and other non-published academic research. The paper will be distributed to registered participants prior to the Workshop.


The Business and Human Rights Initiative is a partnership founded by Dodd Human Rights Impact, the UConn School of Business, and the Human Rights Institute and collaborates with programs and units throughout UConn.

This event will not be recorded.

To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtfu2hqz4qGN1ss092SWLwtaDoZ0P9P33Q

Get Seeded provides seed funding, mentorship, networking, and next step resources to students that have ideas for a business, invention or innovation.

Do you have a business idea, invention, provide or service you have designed, apply to pitch at one of our pitch nights this year for the chance to be awarded up to $1,000. Applications are accepted throughout the academic year on a rolling basis.

This event (and all other Get Seeded events) are open to the whole UConn community. Students are highly encouraged to attend, even if you don't have a business idea. Students in the audience get to vote on which teams are funded.

For more information, to RSVP to attend a pitch night or to apply to pitch please visit: https://ccei.uconn.edu/getseeded/

Weekly Werth Institute Socials are open to all UConn students and Werth Innovators who are interested in entrepreneurship and learning about innovative things happening at UConn and beyond. Are you excited to meet new and interesting people? Are you looking for new opportunities? Do you want to meet someone to team up with to create something new and impactful? Do you like pizza or cookies and hanging out? Then come on by!