The Model Company

What works-and what doesn't-when companies try to do good

Can companies really be "socially responsible"-and should they try? This debate is newly urgent as consumers, employees, and investors push companies to take a stand on everything from climate change to inequality. In this lively and clear-eyed book, economist Ray Fisman cuts through the rhetoric around "doing well by doing good" to show what actually changes corporate behavior and what doesn't-and what corporations should really do if they have society's interests at heart. He will answer questions many of us may be asking:

* Will consumers pay more for eco-friendly products?
* Will employees work harder if they're paid a living wage?
* Do ESG (environmental, social, and governance) funds make a difference?
* Should you pay more for fair-trade coffee at your local cafe? (Yes, you should.)

Drawing on decades of evidence, Fisman examines which approaches to corporate responsibility make a genuine difference-and which are cheap talk, or worse. The result is a practical framework for understanding the tradeoffs between profit and purpose, recognizing which efforts to do good are likely to succeed, and how your choices can push companies to do better.