Zum Inhalt

Open Access 2025 | Open Access | Buch

Good Business

Policy to Unlock Companies’ Benefit for Society

verfasst von: Marthe Hesselmans, Bart Stellinga, Ramy El-Dardiry, Danique François, Catrien Bijleveld

Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buchreihe : Research for Policy

insite
SUCHEN

Über dieses Buch

Dieses Open-Access-Buch zeigt, wie Regierungen Unternehmen motivieren können, einen positiven Einfluss auf die Gesellschaft zu nehmen, und warum dies angesichts der drängenden sozialen, wirtschaftlichen und ökologischen Herausforderungen und Übergänge von heute notwendig ist. Sie zeigt Hindernisse auf, vor denen Unternehmen stehen, wenn es um sozial verantwortliches Wirtschaften geht. Das Buch konzentriert sich auf die Beziehungen zwischen Regierung und Wirtschaft in den Niederlanden und deckt auch zentrale politische Engpässe auf: die Tendenz der niederländischen Regierung, am Status quo festzuhalten und etablierte Unternehmen durch Steuererleichterungen und laxe Durchsetzung zu schützen. Es besteht die reale Gefahr einer unternehmensverwöhnten Politik: Sie behindert Unternehmen, die gesellschaftliche Innovationen beispielsweise in den Bereichen Gesundheit, Bildung oder Arbeitsmarkt anbieten. Wir zeigen auch, wie die Politik die innovativen Qualitäten des Unternehmertums besser nutzen kann. Effektive Regierungspolitik macht es für Unternehmen lohnenswert, ihr Geschäftsmodell so zu ändern, dass ihre Produkte, Dienstleistungen und Produktionsprozesse der Gesellschaft zugute kommen. Unsere Empfehlungen befassen sich mit der Rolle von Regierungen, Verbrauchern, Finanziers und Unternehmen selbst. Während sich diese Arbeit auf die Niederlande konzentriert, geht sie Fragen an, mit denen Länder weltweit konfrontiert sind: Wie kann schädliches Geschäftsgebaren minimiert und gute Geschäftslösungen maximiert werden? Dies macht das Buch für politische Entscheidungsträger, Unternehmensführer und Forscher, die sich mit den Auswirkungen der Wirtschaft auf die heutige Gesellschaft auseinandersetzen, im Großen und Ganzen relevant.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Open Access

Chapter 1. The Role of Companies in Addressing Societal Challenges
Abstract
In this book, the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) provides an analysis of how government can motivate companies to make a positive impact on society and explains why this is essential in addressing today’s pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. The book focuses on the impact of companies and business-related policies on societal challenges in the context of the Netherlands. This first chapter introduces the problem, defines major concepts and briefly discusses the essence of our analysis.
Marthe Hesselmans, Bart Stellinga, Ramy El-Dardiry, Danique François, Catrien Bijleveld

Open Access

Chapter 2. A Broad Perspective of Companies’ Impact on Society
Abstract
How can companies make the greatest possible impact on society? This chapter offers a conceptual and theoretical analysis of a core principle of this book: that companies have a widespread impact on societies’ general welfare, encompassing social, economic, and environmental aspects. The chapter examines the recent evolution of the concept of general welfare in the Netherlands, exploring various perspectives on companies’ contributions to society and their corporate governance. It concludes with an analysis of how governments can enhance the positive impact of companies by adjusting the market conditions in which companies operate and by promoting transitions.
Marthe Hesselmans, Bart Stellinga, Ramy El-Dardiry, Danique François, Catrien Bijleveld

Open Access

Chapter 3. A History of Business-Related Policies in the Netherlands
Abstract
This chapter explores the evolution of business-related policies in the Netherlands and how perspectives on these policies have shifted over time to incentivise companies to benefit society. We analyse historical developments across several policy domains, divided into three distinct periods: from the late nineteenth century to the end of the Second World War; the post-war period up to and including the oil crises of the 1970s; and the period from the 1980s to the present day. We begin each section by examining developments in business and politics before shifting our focus to relevant policy themes. These themes include innovation and market regulation, work and social security, environment and climate, and corporate governance. The chapter concludes by outlining recurrent patterns in Dutch government-business relations, such as the sharing of social responsibility between public and private entities, and the tendency to shield incumbent firms from economic turbulence by means of financial support or lax regulation.
Marthe Hesselmans, Bart Stellinga, Ramy El-Dardiry, Danique François, Catrien Bijleveld

Open Access

Chapter 4. Obstacles that Prevent Companies Making a Positive Impact on Society
Abstract
This chapter explores the obstacles that prevent companies from making a positive impact on society within the framework of their business models. It discusses seven obstacles that touch upon companies’ core activities such as innovation, production processes and products. The chapter concludes that companies striving to compete successfully for the favour of consumers, employees, and financiers, while at the same time addressing social, economic and environmental challenges, face a complex task. Forward-thinking companies stand out from those that are committed to maintaining the status quo. As the former group struggles to boost its positive impact on society, companies engaged in established or outright harmful activities often encounter an abundance of growth opportunities.
Marthe Hesselmans, Bart Stellinga, Ramy El-Dardiry, Danique François, Catrien Bijleveld

Open Access

Chapter 5. Problems and Opportunities for Business-Related Government Policy
Abstract
This chapter examines business-related government policies, such as sector-specific regulation, competition policy, innovation policy, labour market policy, and environmental policy. It focuses on two types of government intervention: modifying the context in which companies operate, through measures such as pricing, standards, and rules; and facilitating transitions through initiatives such as procurement policies. The chapter highlights the instruments used by the Dutch government to incentivise companies to make a positive impact on society, as well as the policy challenges that arise in this process. It concludes by pinpointing key bottlenecks in business-related policy, including the Dutch government’s tendency to prioritise vested interests and its limited recognition of the practical challenges that companies face when striving to make a more positive impact.
Marthe Hesselmans, Bart Stellinga, Ramy El-Dardiry, Danique François, Catrien Bijleveld

Open Access

Chapter 6. Policy to Unlock Companies’ Benefit for Society
Abstract
This final chapter presents recommendations for government policy to ensure that companies generate a positive impact on society through their business practices. These recommendations address the roles of government, consumers, financiers and companies themselves. We conclude in this chapter that the Dutch government is making too little use of its abilities to make good business more worthwhile. It is inclined to shield incumbent firms from economic turbulence through mitigation measures, such as tax breaks or lax enforcement. This encourages a passive mindset and hampers the efforts of companies with innovations that for instance promote health or education. The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) advocates a change in business-related policy: stop pampering and start challenging companies to find solutions for society. This requires the Dutch government to implement a coherent and ambitious mix of pricing instruments, standards and rules, while outlining how it intends to address transitions such as those related to climate change, energy, and the labour market. It also necessitates greater restraint in financial support schemes, more transition-driven public procurement and long-term public and private investments that benefit society.
Marthe Hesselmans, Bart Stellinga, Ramy El-Dardiry, Danique François, Catrien Bijleveld
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
Good Business
verfasst von
Marthe Hesselmans
Bart Stellinga
Ramy El-Dardiry
Danique François
Catrien Bijleveld
Copyright-Jahr
2025
Electronic ISBN
978-3-031-90232-1
Print ISBN
978-3-031-90231-4
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-90232-1