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Stakeholders’ Protection

Traditionally, businesses focused on Shareholder Primacy (Milton Friedman: "The only social responsibility of business is to increase its profits"). Modern ethics focuses on Stakeholder Theory (R. Edward Freeman). A business must create value for all stakeholders.

Who are Stakeholders?

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Rights & Responsibilities

1. Employees

  • Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Collective bargaining, Safe workplace.
  • Company Responsibility: Pay fair wages, No forced labor.

2. Customers

  • Rights: "Customer is King". Right to be heard (Redressal).
  • Company Responsibility: Product safety (No exploding batteries), Truth in Marketing.

3. Competitors

  • Rights: Fair competition.
  • Company Responsibility: No industrial espionage, No predatory pricing (Monopoly abuse).

4. Government

  • Rights: Compliance.
  • Company Responsibility: Pay taxes, Follow laws.
Note

Enlightened Self-Interest: Protecting stakeholders is actually good for shareholders in the long run.

  • Happy employees = Better productivity.
  • Happy customers = Repeat sales.
  • Happy community = No protests/lawsuits.

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