

The corporation in the 21st century
May 12, 2025
In this engaging discussion, John Kay, a prominent British economist and founding dean of the Oxford Business School, critiques traditional business practices. He explores the evolving relationship between capitalism and societal values, using case studies like the transformation of a Danish energy company. Kay also addresses corporate ethics, market perceptions, and the implications of AI on employment. With thought-provoking insights, he challenges listeners to rethink the very nature of business success in the 21st century.
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Virtue Signaling Over Ethics
- Modern business often involves virtue signaling rather than genuine ethics.
- Examples like Goldman Sachs reveal firms make ethical claims without true commitment.
Capital as a Service Today
- Modern firms emphasize capabilities over physical capital like plants.
- Capital is now a service bought by managers from firms with no direct control of operations.
Boeing's Cultural Shift Impact
- Boeing shifted from engineering focus to shareholder value leading to quality issues.
- Its 737 Max redesign linked to crashes highlights risks of profit-driven culture change.