issue152 【越洋农场战队】作文（第四周）－hanyuan，欢迎拍砖！

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152  "The only responsibility of corporate executives, provided they stay within the law, is to make as much money as possible for their companies."
公司的管理者唯一的责任就是在法律规定的范围之内为公司赚尽可能多的钱。
①        确实应该利润最大化。否则竞争激烈，无法生存。而企业做任何事情的前提条件就是生存下来。
②        有时会放弃眼前的利益，将大笔资金投入长期项目，for the long run.
③        企业使用了一部分社会资源，如：污染、有限的能源、人力资本，有责任为社会承担责任。如：帮助治理污染、开发先进的节能设备。
④        企业处于社会中，作为一个团体，对于社会问题有责任去解决。如：资助贫困儿童。会为企业带来长期经济效益。
480字 1小时
In today’s fast developing world, a lot of social problems encountering us from energy crises to air pollution, and from the improvement of the standard of living to space exploration, attracts us more and more concerns about sustainable development. In my point of view, while I agree making money is a basic responsibility of the corporate the company within the law boundary, at the same time, they should take social responsibilities in addition.

On the one hand are two convincing arguments that making as much money as possible for their companies is the mere responsibility of corporate executives within the law boundary. Firstly, maximizing the profit is of the nature of capital, which is also the basis of a company’s survival in the economical competitive society. Suppose that if is no material base to run the company, how can a corporation take their social responsibilities. Moreover, imposing too much ethical responsibilities on corporation may harm the development of that corporation, which in return harms the society indeed. Secondly, by confirming that the most ethical behavior for business is making profit within the law boundary, we can encourage more resources and people and money enter the marketplace to promote economy. With the tangible criterion of law, the companies would work more efficiently and profitably.

On the other hand are three compelling arguments for claiming the additional responsibilities of corporation executives besides making money and complying with the law.

Firstly, as we all know that in a fast ever-changing world with frequently emerging new products, technologies and conceptions, it is impossible for government to make a ever-correct law catching up with the changes. That is, law will always lag behind the current world. Take the increasing business crimes in the Internet which is largely unregulated for example. This is mainly because the lawmakers are unable to react immediately to current crimes so that it is corporate executives to comply with the moral criterion to do what is morally correct without the restrict of the law.

Secondly, corporation as a part of the whole society should comply with the social contract which is made with the community that permits it to do business. This social contract stipulates the moral responsibilities of the corporation which restrict them from committing what will harm that community although not legally enforceable. Thus, a company cannot make their factory profits at the price of polluting the environment, or harming social interests.
Thirdly, taking responsibilities will finally benefit the company and the society as a whole. According to a survey, the water using efficiency of China cities where lack the water most is one third of that in England with sufficient water supply. If the companies explore more economical water using machine and methods, it will undoubtedly benefit the whole society to the end.

In sum, the company should take social responsibilities for society and for development themselves too.