1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910814802603321

Autore

Mitchell Lawrence E

Titolo

Corporate irresponsibility : America's newest export / / Lawrence E. Mitchell

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Haven, : Yale University Press, c2001

ISBN

1-281-73521-3

9786611735210

0-300-13776-1

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (1 online resource (302 p.))

Disciplina

658.4/08/0973

Soggetti

Social responsibility of business - United States

Corporations - Corrupt practices - United States

Corporations - Moral and ethical aspects - United States

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-298) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- CONTENTS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- Chapter 1 . AMERICAN LIBERALISM AND THE FUNDAMENTAL FLAW- THE FOUNDATION OF THE CORPORATE PROBLEM -- Chapter 2 .THE PERFECT EXTERNALIZING MACHINE -- Chapter 3 . CORPORATE PSYCHOLOGY 101, OR ALL THE CORPORATE WORLD'S A STAGE: THE CONSTRAINTS OF ROLE INTEGRITY -- Chapter 4. IS WEALTH A VALUE ? -- Chapter 5 . CORPORATE MANAGERS: DR. JEKYLL OR MR. HYDE? -- Chapter 6 . TRADITIONAL STOCKHOLDERS: THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD -- Chapter 7.THE NEW STOCKHOLDER: KING KONG WITH A QUOTRON -- Chapter 8. ABANDONING THE STOCKHOLDERS -- Chapter 9. THE DILBERT SOCIETY? AMERICA'S CORPORATE WORKERS -- Chapter 10. CAPITALISM, SOCIALISM, AND DEMOCRACY -- Chapter 11 .AMERICA RIGHT AND WRONG: GROWING U.S. ECONOMIC IMPERIALISM -- CONCLUSION -- NOTES -- INDEX

Sommario/riassunto

"Corporations are often so focused on making short-term profits for their stockholders that they behave in ways that adversely affect their employees, the environment, consumers, American politics, and even the long-term well-being of the corporation, says Lawrence Mitchell in this provocative book. This is a significant issue not only in the United



States but also in the world, for many countries are beginning to emulate the American model of corporate governance. Mitchell criticizes this emphasis on profit maximization and the corporate legal structure that encourages it, and he offers concrete proposals to bring about more socially responsible corporate behavior." "Mitchell declares that managers should be freed from the legal structural constraints that make it difficult for them to exercise ordinary moral judgment and be held accountable for their actions. He suggests, for example, that earnings reports be required annually rather than quarterly, that the capital gains tax be increased on stocks held for fewer than thirty days, and that elections of corporate boards of directors be held every five years rather than every year. Mitchell places the problem of corporate irresponsibility within the broader context of American life and demonstrates the extent to which contemporary corporate behavior represents a corruption of our cherished liberal values of personal freedom and individuality."