The Social Responsibility Of Business - 1463 Words

In his paper titled The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits†, Milton Friedman addresses the key issue of weighing social responsibility against profit maximization for shareholders. This conflict is the basis for Friedman’s whole paper, as he explores the two sides of the situation. In order to set up his argument, Friedman lays down a framework by explicitly stating a certain premise. This is that businessman view â€Å"social responsibility† and profit as not being mutually exclusive. In other words, the majority of businessman believe that they can operate a socially responsible operation, while still optimizing profits in the long run. Friedman argues in favor of this viewpoint by making a claim and providing a solid line of reasoning to support his claim. Friedman’s main claim in this paper is that corporate executives must conduct business with the aim to satisfy the desires and wishes of shareholders. He says that often the p rincipal desire of shareholders is to maximize profits for the company, while still conforming to the rules of society. These rules can be purely legal, but can also be ethical and moral rules that are imposed by society. Friedman argues that any social responsibilities that go beyond the scope of maximizing profits is â€Å"pure and unadulterated socialism† (239). To reinforce his main claim, Friedman uses a logical flow of reasons that is predicated upon the role of executives and shareholders. To emphasize his main claim thatShow MoreRelatedThe Social Responsibility Of Business932 Words   |  4 PagesA corporation does do business within a vacuum; rather exist as part of larger collective framework of society, stakeholders and a global business community. I believe that corporations which are profitable, and promote moral and ethical standards are the benchmark of success; additionally, corporations bear a great social responsibility to the society it exists within, an s imply working within â€Å"the basic rules of society, both those embodied in law and those embodied in ethical custom† is not enoughRead MoreBusiness and Social Responsibility1140 Words   |  5 PagesWhen a business gets incorporated regardless of the business size and the nature of profession requires an adequate execution methods for being successful and to achieve its goals. Some of these goals can be short-term or long-term, depends on the nature of business. Likewise, these execution methodologies can be vary time to time as the corporate needs to satisfy different groups of people such as : top hierarchy stakeholders, staffs ,shareholders, and even non-related business groups such as environmentalistsRead MoreThe Social Responsibility Of Business1422 Words   |  6 Pagesthe business be held accountable for these actions? In his essay â€Å"The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profit† Milton Friedman, powerful economist, discusses what a b usiness should prioritize in the economic system. Friedman declares what a business is responsible for and the guidelines they must follow. Due to Friedman’s view, he would not have condoned the actions and decisions that the executives at Ford Motor Company took. Friedman argues that the only responsibility a businessRead MoreThe Social Responsibility Of Business1042 Words   |  5 PagesCorporate Social Responsibility is defined as a business preparation that involves participating in creativities that help society. Friedman: The Social Responsibility of Business is to increase its profits. Milton Friedman argues that the only social responsibility a business has is to itself – mainly to its profits, and therefore, its stakeholders. The business management in charge of a company works for the organization and eventually for the stakeholders. This person is responsible for carryingRead MoreThe Social Responsibility of a Business647 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿The Social Responsibility of Business: The role of business in the society became a major aspect across business after Milton Freedman wrote the most provocative article in 1970. As an economist, Freedman stated that the main purpose of businesses is to generate profits for its shareholders. Furthermore, he argued that companies with responsible attitudes were likely to encounter increased binding constraints unlike those that lacked these attitudes, resulting in them becoming less competitiveRead MoreThe Social Responsibility Of Business787 Words   |  4 Pages The economist and Nobel laureate Milton Friedman’s article published in The New York Times Magazine in 1970 titled, â€Å"The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits.† (NYTimes, 1970) set tone for companies all across the country and all over the world. Companies start to turn in profits that shattered all charts and stock markets. Beginning in 1960s to 1990s, Capitalism had won the cold war with its arch rival the Soviet Union had withered away into the oblivion and the companiesRead MoreThe Social Responsibility Of Business1437 Words   |  6 Pagesthe business be held accountable for these actions? In his essay â€Å"The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profit† Milton Friedman, powerful economist, discusses what a business should prioritize in the economic system. Friedman declares what a business is responsible for and the guidelines they must follow. Due to Friedman’s view, he would not have condoned the actio ns and decisions that the executives at Ford Motor Company took. Friedman argues that the only responsibility a businessRead MoreThe Social Responsibility Of Business2053 Words   |  9 Pagesevolution-taking place; now the level of a business social responsibility has become increasingly integrated into modern business practices. This focus has seen both advantages and disadvantages to the business. However, to what extent has the use of the greater focus of a business social responsibility affected its competitive advantage in its marketplace. CSR is described as; â€Å"the principle that companies can and should make a positive contribution to society, of managing the social, environmental and economicRead MoreSocial Responsibility Of A Business1444 Words   |  6 Pagesareas of business and nonprofit management. However, Cohen’s article on social responsibility drew a lot attention from other scholars like Friedman. In view of this, this paper will discuss and define the concept of social responsibility of a business to its workers, stakeholders, and society; how the perspectives align with that of Drucker; comparing Cohen’s opinion with that of Friedman and finally determines which of the two individual’s opinion best aligns with the current business climate promotingRead MoreThe Social Responsibility Of Business Essay1959 Words   |  8 Pagesagree or disagree with the following quotation: â€Å"There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage i n activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say engages in free and open competition, without deception and fraud.† Milton Friedman, a Nobel Prize winning economist. In other words, the social responsibility of business is to make a profit. I do not agree with the following quote by Milton Friedman