DCSBN Presents the Business Case for CSR

The postulate was simple: is corporate social responsibility a new way of thinking about “doing well by doing good?” Or, is CSR simply privatizing socialism by demanding corporations do something more what they should be doing: maximizing profits for investors?

John Friedman represented the Washington DC Sustainable Business Network, and offered the “business case” to be made for corporations pursing social good.

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Several cited Milton Friedman's famous statement that business exists to make as much money as possible 'within the rules of the game' as a case against CSR, Friedman (John) pointed out that 'the rules' must include the rules of the marketplace, society and stakeholders. "The world's best manufacturer of buggy whips conformed to the law but still missed an evolving market with the introduction of the automobile."

In response to a postulate that business was cleaner and more socially responsible than ever before and therefore continued efforts were unnecessary, Friedman pointed out that "giving companies the advice that the improvements that they have made over the last century are 'good enough' to keep them ahead of their competition is, on its face an argument against capitalism and is anti-American competitiveness in the market place."

The debate took place at the America's Future Foundation in Washington, DC.