/ 6 December 2019

Economic system we select defines our future

Economic System We Select Defines Our Future
Opportunity knocks: The Fearless Girl statue opposite the New York Stock Exchange. Business leaders have the chance to give stakeholder capitalism new meaning and uphold their duty to society. (Johannes Eisele/AFP)

 

 

ECONOMICS

What kind of capitalism do we want? That may be the defining question of our era. If we want to sustain our economic system for future generations, we must answer it correctly.

Generally speaking, we have three models to choose from. The first is shareholder capitalism, embraced by most Western corporations, which holds that a corporation’s primary goal should be to maximise its profits. The second model is state capitalism, which entrusts the government with setting the direction of the economy, and has risen to prominence in many emerging markets, not least China.

The third option has the most to recommend it. Stakeholder capitalism positions private corporations as trustees of society, and is the best response to today’s social and environmental problems.

Shareholder capitalism first gained ground in the United States in the 1970s, and expanded its influence globally in the following decades. During its heyday, hundreds of millions of people prospered as profit-seeking companies unlocked new markets and created new jobs.

But that wasn’t the whole story. Advocates of shareholder capitalism had neglected the fact that a publicly listed corporation is not just a profit-seeking entity but also a social organism. Together with pressures to boost short-term results, the single-minded focus on profits caused shareholder capitalism to become increasingly disconnected from the real economy. Many realise this form of capitalism is no longer sustainable. The question is: Why have attitudes begun to change only now?

One possible reason is the “Greta Thunberg” effect. The young climate activist has reminded us that adherence to the current economic system represents a betrayal of future generations, because it is unsustainable. Another related reason is that millennials and Generation Z no longer want to work for, invest in, or buy from companies that do not have values beyond maximising shareholder value. And, finally, executives and investors have started to recognise that their own long-term success is closely linked to that of their customers, employees and suppliers.

The result is that stakeholder capitalism is quickly gaining ground. The change in direction is long overdue. I first described the concept in 1971, and I created the World Economic Forum to help business and political leaders implement it. Two years later, representatives at the forum’s annual meeting signed the Davos Manifesto, which describes a firm’s principal responsibilities toward its stakeholders.

Now others are finally coming to the “stakeholder” table. The US Business Roundtable, the country’s most influential business lobby group, announced this year that it would formally embrace stakeholder capitalism. And investing that considers its effects is rising to prominence as more investors look for ways to link environmental and societal benefits to financial returns.

The World Economic Forum is releasing a new Davos Manifesto, which states that companies should pay their fair share of taxes, show zero tolerance for corruption, uphold human rights throughout their global supply chains and advocate for a competitive level playing field — particularly in the platform economy, which is, according to The Innovator, “digital communities and marketplaces that allow different groups to interact and transact”.

But to uphold the principles of stakeholder capitalism, companies will need new metrics. For starters, a new measure of shared value creation should include environmental, social and governance goals as a complement to standard financial metrics. An initiative to develop a new standard is already under way, with support from the top four accounting firms and led by the chairperson of the International Business Council, Bank of America chief executive Brian Moynihan.

The second metric that must be adjusted is executive remuneration. Executive pay has skyrocketed, mostly to “align” management decision-making with shareholder interests. In the new stakeholder paradigm, salaries should instead align with the new measure of long-term shared value creation.

Finally, large companies should understand that they are major stakeholders in our common future. Clearly, all companies should still seek to harness their core competencies and maintain an entrepreneurial mindset. But they should also work with other stakeholders to improve the state of the world in which they are operating. In fact, this latter proviso should be their ultimate purpose.

Is there any other way? State capitalism, its proponents would say, also pursues a long-term vision, and has enjoyed recent successes, especially in Asia. But while state capitalism may be a good fit for one stage of development, it, too, should gradually evolve into something closer to a stakeholder model, lest it succumb to corruption from within.

Business leaders now have an incredible opportunity. By giving stakeholder capitalism concrete meaning, they can move beyond their legal obligations and uphold their duty to society. They can bring the world closer to achieving shared goals, such as those outlined in the Paris climate agreement and the United Nations sustainable development agenda. If they really want to leave their mark on the world, there is no alternative. — © Project Syndicate