Jul 22 2024
Episode #85: Elevating Capitalism - Profit Versus Profiteering with Chris Marquis
Profit is essential for business, but what happens when it comes at the expense of society? Join us as we dive into this pressing issue with Chris Marquis, author of "The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profit and Socializes Costs." Marquis unpacks how companies often "socialize their costs" through harmful side effects and externalities, leaving society to pick up the tab.We explore the dark side of corporate profit-making, with the opioid crisis and Purdue Pharma serving as prime examples of how businesses can hide their negative impacts. Imagine a car's exhaust pipe feeding directly into the passenger compartment—that's the stark reality of pollution externalities affecting everyone, not just the polluters.But instead of pointing fingers, Marquis advocates for a transformation of our systems and markets. He emphasizes the need to evolve our practices to account for the true and total costs of doing business while preserving the best aspects of our market-based capitalist system. Tune in to discover how current business models contribute to environmental degradation, plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, and extreme social inequality, and why these practices are unsustainable in the long run. With Chris Marquis, we explore innovative ways to capture conscious businesses' true costs and profits, ensuring that profit remains beneficial and ethical.**If you enjoy this podcast, would you consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes only a few seconds and greatly helps us get our podcast out to a wider audience.Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.For transcripts and show notes, please go to: https://www.theconsciouscapitalists.comThis show is presented by Conscious Capitalism, Inc. (https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/) and is produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/) with Matthew Jones as Executive Producer, Rithu Jagannath as Lead Producer, and Nathan Wheatley as Editor.Thank you for your support!- Timothy & RajTime Stamps00:00 Introduction to Profiteering and Externalities00:44 Welcome to the Conscious Capitalists Podcast01:22 Introducing Special Guest: Chris Marcus02:33 Critiquing Capitalism and Celebrating Its Potential04:27 The Legacy of Jack Welch and Shareholder Capitalism09:20 The Sociological Perspective on Business24:09 The Role of Business Schools in System Change33:31 The Urgency of Climate Action and Systemic Change36:28 Exploring Chinese Business and Authoritarianism42:08 Defining the Responsibility of Business43:48 The Concept of Regenerative Business Models48:38 Chris's Personal Journey and Pittsburgh's Transformation50:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts