The Corporation as Social Contract

28 Pages Posted: 7 Oct 2011

See all articles by Muel Kaptein

Muel Kaptein

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Rotterdam School of Management (RSM)

Johan F. Wempe

VU University Amsterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Date Written: October 7, 2011

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that the different relationships of corporations can be understood as contractual relationships. The aim of the contract is to do justice to the claims of all parties, including that of the corporation. This renders the notion of a contract eminently suitable as a conceptual model for formulating the moral standards appropriate to the corporate context.

Keywords: ethics, integrity, social contract, corporate social responsibility

JEL Classification: D10, M14

Suggested Citation

Kaptein, Muel and Wempe, Johan F., The Corporation as Social Contract (October 7, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1940396 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1940396

Muel Kaptein (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
Room T11-53
3000 DR Rotterdam, 3000 DR
Netherlands
+31 10 408 1923 (Phone)

Johan F. Wempe

VU University Amsterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam, 1081HV
Netherlands
+31630380081 (Phone)

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