Profit Maximization Essay

Total Length: 614 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 0

Page 1 of 2

Corporate Objective

I do not think it is necessary to have a single-valued objective function. Maximizing firm value is not mutually exclusive to all other objectives, first. Second, that's like saying that human should only seek to maximize his or her net worth -- it's absurd. A corporation is an investment vehicle, yes, but that's not all it is. As for the idea that firm value maximization is the best objective function, that's not entirely true either. It's important -- you wouldn't have a firm in the capitalist sense of the word without some value maximization, but if the firm didn't provide jobs, for example, it would also not exist. Every firm provides a living for at least one person -- and they do that before firm value even enters into the question.

Freeman's stakeholder theory reflects the idea that the firm should be governed by the interests of its stakeholders. Jensen is arguing that within this context, value maximization should be paramount. Freeman does not opt for value maximization as his primary driver. Jensen does, allowing mostly that other things might also be important sometimes as well.

3. Freeman argues that tradeoffs should be avoided. That managers can find solutions that do not require such direct tradeoffs of shareholder vs. stakeholder, but that with some creativity and sound thinking, managers can find solutions that are good -- if not maximizing -- for the allegedly conflicting interests.


4. Porter thinks that businesses can be good at solving social problems because business have a profit motive. The profit motive will drive business to utilize the resources it has access to -- which are substantial -- to solve problems. Profit will then create momentum towards a solution as well, as profits are reinvested, more companies enter the industry, etc.

5. Porter's perspective is still a little bit inconsistent with Jensen's. They are quite similar, both believe in profit, maximizing firm value and things like that. But Porter is basically asking business to tackle social problems, because it can and maybe there will be some profit out of it. Jensen is saying business has to think about profit in the long run. So Jensen goes back to profit maximization -- say, oil companies -- while Porter is positing the business can address climate change. Maybe it can deal with climate change better than government, but with public goods and negative externalities, Jensen's value maximization might focus on other things with more short-run payoffs.

6. Vogel's solution to market failures is that public policy steps in, which changes the incentives of managers so as to align the interests of shareholders and stakeholders.

7. Leland argues that stockholder maximization is so important in the context of the economy, and that companies drive innovation in our society.….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


Related Essays

Marginal Revenue Marginal Cost

principle relationship becomes interesting. MR=MC is also known as the profit maximization rule (IE, 2018). The slope of this curve reflects the margin, and how it changes as the company achieves economies of scale. For example, if a company has a slow, manual process for producing widgets that results in a marginal cost of $1.00 per widget, and but because widgets are not differentiated even when made by hand, the marginal revenue at that production level is $0.75. This means the company cannot produce at that level profitably. If it invests in a machine that allows it to produce widgets… Continue Reading...

A Biblical Worldview in Finance

easily be lost as secular goals replace spiritual ones. This paper will address the issue of profit maximization, insider trading, and how to convert a sinner from a Biblical perspective to show why orienting oneself towards the Heaven is so important for one’s spiritual life. Part I Profit maximization by itself is an inappropriate goal because it is not connected to the moral or spiritual purpose of life, as indicated in Matt. 16:26: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” One who dedicates his… Continue Reading...

A Concise Analysis of Financial Performance of Companies

with reduction of future costs or income outflows linked to legal requirements. But it is hard to ascertain the precise timing of these risks' occurrence. Stakeholder theory puts the CR aspect into operation. The theory describes a company stakeholder and combines stakeholder interests and corporate profit maximization objectives. Clients, stockholders, supplying entities, workforce, special interest organizations, non-government organizations, communities and regulators typically make up a company's stakeholders. The contemporary CR concept has basically developed into the following 3 key stakeholder relation classes: environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G). For instance, workforce satisfaction enhances their motivation and retention rates, in addition to increasing development of novel patents, products, or deals. Via such long-run performance improvements, personnel satisfaction proves beneficial to stockholders (Edmans, 2011). Experts in the field have described organizational ESG performance with respect to… Continue Reading...

How Environment Influences Business

government policies and engagements. The magnitude to which Apple Inc. is capable of accomplishing its key objective of profit maximization is reliant on a variety of political factors comprising of government stability, corruption, extent of bureaucracy and also freedom. In the contemporary, the most significant political aspect that has influenced Apple’s operations is the company’s encounter with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). In particular, the company’s disagreement with the agency took into account the aspect of whether Apple should have been obligated to hack an iPhone account that has been utilized by one of the terrorists during the 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting. Subsequently, this… Continue Reading...

sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Profit Maximization" (2014, November 14) Retrieved May 20, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/profit-maximization-2153516

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Profit Maximization" 14 November 2014. Web.20 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/profit-maximization-2153516>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Profit Maximization", 14 November 2014, Accessed.20 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/profit-maximization-2153516