An important shift may be under way in corporate America. The largest US business group has replaced the long-held view that maximising shareholder value is the defining corporate goal with a more inclusive vision that takes account of other stakeholders. Explicitly elevating broader interests such as those of employees, the environment and customers is intended to set a new standard for companies across the US. This welcome, wider approach to corporate purpose should create a more sustainable and inclusive form of capitalism. Business must now show it is ready to put the change into practice.
美國企業界可能正在發生重大變革。美國最大的商業團體已放棄一個長期堅持的觀點——即企業的根本目標是股東價值最大化——取而代之的是一個同時考慮其他利益相關方的、更具包容性的愿景。明確提高員工、環境和客戶的利益等更廣泛利益的地位，旨在為全美企業確立一個新標準。以這種受歡迎、且更廣泛的方式制定的企業目標應該能夠創造出一種更具可持續性和包容性的資本主義。企業現在必須表明，其已準備好將這一變革付諸實施。