Businesses need to make a profit otherwise they have no reason to exist. The public good, or even a passing interest for the outside world seems to be the domain of non-profits and government. There is a growing call for corporations acting responsibly towards the world they share with us. Benefit corporations are a recent attempt to change the perception of what for-profit businesses can be for society. These companies aim to serve their customer and the public good without sacrificing profit.
These companies are facing a widespread and deeply held assumption that a company should only be focused on making a profit. This was not always the case. As the Atlantic explored in a recent interview, societies have long expected their entrepreneurs to work towards the public good. In England, this view has been found to exist even in medieval times.
Author
Summer Brown
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