Wall Street Journal writer David Benoit reported recently that, “The leaders of some of America’s biggest companies are chipping away at the long-held notion that corporate decision-making should revolve around what is best for shareholders.
“The Business Roundtable [last month] changed its statement of ‘the purpose of a corporation.’ No longer should decisions be based solely on whether they will yield higher profits for shareholders, the group said. Rather, corporate leaders should take into account ‘all stakeholders’—that is, employees, customers and society writ large.
“It is a major philosophical shift for the association, which counts the chief executives of dozens of the biggest U.S. companies as its members. The group, led by JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO James Dimon, is a powerful voice in Washington for U.S. business interests. It represents a broad swath of American industry, counting among its members the leaders of technology giants and manufacturing companies, airlines and institutional investors, to name a few.”
The Journal article pointed out that, “The Business Roundtable’s old statement of purpose espoused economist Milton Friedman’s decades-old theory that companies’ only obligation is to maximize value for shareholders.
“‘Each of our stakeholders is essential,’ the new statement says. ‘We commit to deliver value to all of them, for the future success of our companies, our communities and our country.'”
The article explained that, “A company’s position on the question of corporate purpose can influence issues as diverse as worker pay and environmental impact. It plays a central role in discussions about stock buybacks, corporate spending and how companies respond to activist investors agitating for moves meant to boost returns.”
