Democracy: It sure sounds good in principle, but do we really want to turn the corporation into a debating society?

FORBES: Dollars and Democracy

The fact is that there is no empirical basis for financialism's underlying fundamental principles--that a corporation has no obligation to society other than to maximize short-term value for its shareholders, and that the capital markets should be their own sole regulators.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The overwhelming majority said that they wanted to do good in some way only one in six of them was willing to say that a corporation's main role in society was to provide high returns but they were nervous as to how to go about it.

ECONOMIST: A look at noteworthy articles from business journals

The New York Times Co. (nyse: NYT - news - people ) strives mightily to be of consequence (it says in a press release that its "core purpose is to enhance society"), but the revenue of this corporation is scarcely half the collective revenue of the country's weekly newspapers.

FORBES: What's in Storage

Whereas in a purchase, the deal is through a corporation which removes the personal nature of the transaction so society gives you complete freedom of speech to discuss your bargaining skills.

FORBES: Seller beware: don't give away the store when selling

At the heart of Bakan's argument is the idea that, since its legal personification during the mid-1800s, the corporation has risen relentlessly to become the dominant institution in western society -- the equivalent of the church, the monarchy or the Communist Party during other historical eras.

CNN: The corporate psychopath exposed

Increasingly, corporations are turning to a shared value model, in which companies work in alignment with society rather than against it, producing mutual benefits to both the community and the corporation.

FORBES: How The Private Sector Can Drive Social Innovation

The concept of corporation sole originated as a means to the orderly transfer of church or religious society property, serving to keep title within the church or religious society.

FORBES: Evangelicals And Corporation Sole - Not A Marriage Made In Heaven

The corporation sole form can also serve the needs of a very small church or religious society, just as well as a large diocese.

FORBES: Evangelicals And Corporation Sole - Not A Marriage Made In Heaven