The Monster of Supercapitalism

Journal of Business Ethics · 2010 · Volume 91 · Issue 1

Abstract

Among other interesting claims made in Robert Reich’s 2007 treatise,Supercapitalism, it is asserted in various ways that proponents of corporate social responsibility (CSR) or what I would call ‘business ethics’ are engaged in relatively unproductive exercises. Their resources would be better used if they undertook the hard work of engagement in democratic political processes leading to legislation that would force corporations to pursue the public interest as well as their own. In this article, I summarize some of Reich’s central theses and arguments, show that they are fatally flawed and explain why the institution of morality is essential for business, law and democracy.

Keywords

corporate social responsibility, democracy, institution of morality

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