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posted by martyb on Friday January 24 2020, @04:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the Better-ask-Betteridge? dept.

Capitalism is in trouble – at least judging by recent polls.

A majority of American millennials reject the economic system, while 55% of women age 18 to 54 say they prefer socialism. More Democrats now have a positive view of socialism than capitalism. And globally, 56% of respondents to a new survey agree "capitalism as it exists today does more harm than good in the world."

One problem interpreting numbers like these is that there are many definitions of capitalism and socialism. More to the point, people seem to be thinking of a specific form of capitalism that deems the sole purpose of companies is to increase stock prices and enrich investors. Known as shareholder capitalism, it's been the guiding light of American business for more than four decades. That's what the survey meant by "as it exists today."

As a scholar of socially responsible companies, however, I cannot help but notice a shift in corporate behavior in recent years. A new kind of capitalism seems to be emerging, one in which companies value communities, the environment and workers just as much as profits.

The latest evidence: Companies as diverse as alcohol maker AB InBev, airline JetBlue and money manager BlackRock have all in recent weeks made new commitments to pursue more sustainable business practices.

[...] A 2017 study showed that many companies with climate change goals actually scaled back their ambitions over time as the reality clashed with their lofty goals.

But businesses can't afford to ignore their customers' wishes. Nor can they ignore their workers in a tight labor market. And if they disregard socially responsible investors, they risk both losing out on important investments and facing shareholder resolutions that force change.

The shareholder value doctrine is not dead, but we are beginning to see major cracks in its armor. And as long as investors, customers and employees continue to push for more responsible behavior, you should expect to see those cracks grow.

The Conversation


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  • (Score: 1, Disagree) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday January 24 2020, @08:00PM (3 children)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday January 24 2020, @08:00PM (#948098) Homepage Journal

    Other countries are irrelevant. They do not get a vote here.

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    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 24 2020, @08:52PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 24 2020, @08:52PM (#948137)

    Words mean things, but you're a fan of Trump's trolling so I'm not surprised you would be ok with making up your own rules for language as well.

    You man up enough to correct the record with your jourbal entry blaming Democrsts for Republican legislation? Curious what bit of logic you have to protect your ego this time.

    • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday January 25 2020, @03:35AM (1 child)

      by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Saturday January 25 2020, @03:35AM (#948330) Homepage Journal

      Domestic politics within a nation are relative to that nation only, thus the axis is calibrated to that nation only. If you want to talk international politics, fine, when we're not talking domestic politics. If you want to say we're all evil because a few pot heads here want to say we suck compared to everything ever because we're not communists, you can fuck off.

      --
      My rights don't end where your fear begins.
      • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 25 2020, @05:49PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 25 2020, @05:49PM (#948515)

        Weird defense of your idiocy, but whatever BTM