Are you ethically certified?

ETHICAL

The industry needs to start operating permanently in an ethical manner - especially with the arrival of ‘B corporation' certificates, says Henry Findlater, investment adviser at Maseco Private Wealth.

Everyone is familiar with 20th century capitalism. It has been the heartbeat of economies for hundreds of years. The model was neatly summarised by economist Milton Friedman: “There is one, and only one, social responsibility of business – to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits.” This simple system has worked very well, but maximising value at all costs seems dated and unpalatable in today’s world. Friedman’s approach advocates the notion that if businesses operate with self-interest at heart, then this is how they will best serve society. But i...