Alan Shipman of The Open University Economics Department recalls the origins and optimistic expectations of the shareholder value ‘revolution’, inspired by economic ideas of profit-maximisation and a political turn against profligate management.

Buddhist Economics - Audio

The case for shareholder wealth

In the world of economics, does a person’s well-being really matter? What is more important, social objectives or profit maximisation – or are they even compatible? During a trip to Burma in 1955, Ernest Schumacher pioneered the concept of Buddhist Economics, a set of principles based on the belief that the function of business is to supply goods and services for need and true well-being. Schumacher argued that Buddhist Economics could serve as a vehicle for human development to overcome self centeredness and augment human creativity and knowledge. Presented by Dr Mike Lucas from The Open University Business School and Alan Shipman from the Department of Economics at The Open University.

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Buddhist Economics - Audio