To mark the 50-year anniversary of Milton Friedman’s influential New York Times piece on the social responsibility of business, the Stigler Centre for the study of the economy and the State at University of Chicago Booth School of Business published “a series of articles on the shareholder-stakeholder debate” in Milton Friedman 50 Years Later. 

This conference will explore the argument, that the debate is based on a misunderstanding of Friedman's views. Also, that it is remised on an entirely false dichotomy, a view expressed by Arie de Geus author of The Living Company and a former senior executive of Royal Dutch Shell. He argued, ““Like all organisms, the living company exists primarily for its own survival and improvement: to fulfil its potential and to become as great as it can be. It does not exist solely to provide customers with goods, or to return investment to shareholders”. Read more

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In discussions with several senior executives and thought leaders, Paul Barnett, Founder & CEO of the Enlightened Enterprise Academy has found his, and Arie’s, view is widely shared. So, several have been asked to join an online conference with the aim of changing the narrative, and of moving beyond the false dichotomy.