Origins of social contributions

In prosperous times we bear witness to major changes in values concerning the way people live, and at the same time, the strain caused by periods of economic growth add momentum to this, heralding the need for companies, particularly large corporations, to conduct a fundamental rethink of their stance toward social responsibility. Notably, a large corporation’s reason for existing should not be judged by the size of its period profit or loss. Rather, the value of its existence should be judged on whether or not it has a structure flexible enough to adjust to changes in conditions based on long-term dynamism and a long-term view. Accordingly, a company should only be free to enjoy the profit it gains after first taking responsibility for the tangible and intangible social costs generated through its activities and providing services to society in its capacity as a corporation.

Going forward, I believe that each corporation ought to make public how it will bear the social costs of its endeavors as well as how it will establish an environment that does not oppress local residents or individuals by aligning with their freedoms.

In addition, since by definition a corporation can only exist through the pursuit of profit, it will not survive long if its manner of fulfilling social responsibility is merely to conduct charitable business. A corporation must be corporate-like in actively taking on projects in consideration of the breakeven point that are expected to be profitable over the long term if not the short term. It would be perfect if each project undertaken involved the development of information,technology or equipment that was in some way connected to the welfare of the people.