ABSTRACT
Interest in the social responsibility of the corporation, that is, the manner in which corporations conduct their activities within the broad framework of social interests, has developed largely in response to a decline in public confidence in corporate operations. Although the redistribution of the "social costs" of production might indeed change supply and demand relationships, it would, at the same time, reorient the corporation toward a more responsible consumer economy. A major issue in regard to the social responsibility of corporations is full public disclosure of corporate financial and other important activities. In response to public criticism, antitrust legislation was enacted, and other social reform movements were directed at large corporations to force them to become more socially responsible. The general trend has been toward acceptance of corporate social responsibility, but some critics argue that maximization of profits should remain the sole responsibility of corporations.
