Ethical Paradox in Law Enforcement vs. Public Economic Survival: A Case Study of Local Government Officials
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Abstract
This research article aims to: 1) analyze the ethical paradox and discretionary decision-making of local government officials structurally pressured by the conflict between institutional duties and the economic survival of grassroots citizens; and 2) develop the concept of ìfunctional ethical elasticityî to mitigate operational tension and balance the rule of law with humanitarian justice. Utilizing a qualitative research methodology compliant with strict ethical standards, this study integrates critical documentary analysis with in-depth interviews of ten key informants, including administrative and municipal officials. The findings reveal that front-line personnel experience an acute moral dilemma. From a contractarian perspective, strictly enforcing municipal laws is essential for sovereign stability. Conversely, rigid enforcement systematically violates the principle of utility, threatening the ontological survival of economically marginalized populations facing the biological inevitability of poverty. To resolve this structural tension, the study proposes the concept of ìfunctional ethical elasticityî as a pragmatic mechanism to balance universal legal rules with grassroots humanitarian justice. The discoveries suggest that establishing transparent, systematically controlled spaces of concession free from structural corruption will safeguard the sovereign legitimacy of the state and lead to the sustainable development of authentic ethical citizens in contemporary public administration.
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