GMAT考试写作指导：Issue写作范文十八

　　18. We take for granted that a primary objective and obligation of a corporation is to

　　maximize profits. But does this mean a corporation cannot also fulfill its obligations to

　　society? The speaker claims mat the two duties necessarily conflict. In my view,

　　however, a corporations duties to maximize shareholder wealth and to serve society

　　will at times coincide and at times-conflict; and when they do conflict, neither takes

　　automatic precedence over the other.

　　.Beyond the obvious duty to maximize shareholder wealth, corporations indeed

　　owe a duty to serve society, especially the immediate community, which permits

　　corporations to operate in exchange for an implicit promise that the corporations will do

　　no harm and will bring some benefit to the community. These duties can often be

　　fulfilled together. For example, a successful corporation brings jobs and related

　　economic benefit to the community. And, by contributing to community activities and

　　changes in other ways, the corporation gains a reputation for social responsibility that

　　often helps it become even more successful.

　　However, at times these duties do conflict. Consider, for instance, a company that

　　unknowingly leaks into the ground a toxic substance that threatens to contaminate local

　　groundwater. While the company may favor an inexpensive containment program,

　　community leaders may want the company to go further by cleaning up and restoring

　　their environment―even if the expense will force the company to leave and take jobs

　　from the community. Whatever the company decides, it should not assume that

　　protecting profits automatically outweighs social obligation. In many instances it does

　　not, as highly visible tobacco, automobile safety, and asbestos liability cases aptly

　　illustrate. Such examples reveal a limit as to how far a corporation can ethically go in

　　trading off the well being of the community for the sake of its own profits.

　　In sum, corporations have duties both to do well and to do good. Although

　　conflict between these duties is not inevitable, it does occur. Determining which duty

　　takes precedence in time of conflict requires careful consideration of all the ethical

　　ramifications of each alternative.