What roles for companies in society?
Overview
Climate change, worsening social inequalities, increasing health risks… Our societies are faced with major risks. In this context, what role can or should companies play? Historically, the role assigned to companies is to create economic value for their partners or shareholders. In 2019, the PACTE law requires each company, whether civil or commercial, to be managed “in its social interest, taking into consideration the social and environmental issues of its activity”. Companies would therefore no longer only have an economic role but also a social and environmental one. But can these different roles be reconciled? If so, under what conditions? On which business models can they be based? What principles of governance and management do they require? How can we support companies in their transformation?