An Economy Based on Profit-Maximizing Companies is Unsustainable and Bad for the Common Man

"I would like to remind you that this debate is about an economic system where firms operate under a profit-maximizing model, not necessarily debating the principles of capitalism as compared to socialism, communism" How is a economic system of profit maximization not capitalist? I know government involvement does play a factor, regulations can hurt capitalism but even with strict regulations the economic system may be almost socialist but still more capitalist than socialist. The two terms are almost interchangeable. You obviously fail to see understand the models required for maximizing profits. Maximizing profits does not mean charging more for a product as you suggested. In your two examples, the epi-pen and the aids medication that plan will back fire for the epi-pen makers and already did for the aids medication supplier. In the case of the CEO and the AIDS medication another company has already marketed a generic at the same price as the medication was prior to him raising that price. I believe that he has since reset the price to its original amount otherwise he would be going out of business. That is not exactly maximizing profits is it? If you ever studied economics you would know each product has price point of maximum profit, a profit can be made above and below that point but it would be less profit than at that point. That is due to having a maximum number of customers at even the lowest point and having very few at the highest point. So your examples are not valid for profit maximization the free market (capitalism) does not allow that to go unanswered competition will always set a price down to certain level. Need based approach? The needs of the people helps set the price and price gouging as you seem to be accusing companies of is kept in check by competition. Businesses seeking to maximize profits helps to lower prices as they compete for the business of each consumer. "The answer is no, it did so by extracting natural resources from other disadvantaged countries and leaving the natives scrambling in their wake. The common man of these countries were most certainly hurt" How do you think American businesses had the money to set up in others nations to begin with? If they were not economically superior prior that point then how did they get to that point? It takes a lot of money to set up a business in a foreign country. Even in those European countries who do not fit the model of the situation I described the standard of living is still lower that what it is in America. "New Arguments: I would like to talk about key operations of a firm that help it in a long term that are in opposition to the profit-maximizing model. Reinvestment into the company in such things like research and development, employee relations, charitable work, the general well-being and wages of its workers, can pay off tremendously. This improves product, helps gain more contracts, puts the company in a good light with the public, and ensures that the company is not receiving bare-minimum work by the employees. They hold gains that are so speculative but obvious in their nature, it is hard to place an economic value. But one thing that is true, to maximize profit by cutting fields of R&D and Employee satisfaction would spell doom for the longevity of a company, and is therefore unsustainable. " You profit maximization model is not the model any successful business uses. Long term planning is part of the profit maximization model!!! Companies know that long term strategies are better than a big burst of one time profit potential. Henry Ford spent a lot of money building the first assembly line, he invented the internal combustion engine, he paid his workers a much higher than average wage and cut the working hours. His model does not fit your description of profit maximization, he however soon became the biggest automaker in his day. Businesses understand that to maximize profits you must look at the long term and not the short term as profit can not be made while out of business. All of those things you mentioned as being contrary to profit maximization is actually part of profit maximization. They use that to increase workplace productivity, get an edge on competition, create new product lines, and gain a good reputation amongst the general public. Those things all help the business to maximize its long term profit potential. So in essence your argument is actually proving your original statement to be incorrect.