Corporations exist only because laws have been enacted that provide for their creation and give them a license to operate. When these laws were enacted, no attempt was made to give corporations characteristics or traits that would make them good citizens. At that time, most corporations were small and their impact on society was insignificant. In the past, it was not as important that they be socially responsible. This is no longer true.
Corporate law establishes a structure under which all corporations operate.
The key element of this structure is the duty of directors to try to make money for shareholders. This duty of directors, in turn, becomes the primary directive for all of the corporations officers, managers, and other employees. Consequently, all corporate action is taken in the pursuit of profit. Literally hundreds of decisions are made every day by employees who have little incentive to promote corporate citizenship or social responsibility unless such promotion also can be shown to improve short-term profitability. To the extent there is any restraint on the pursuit of profit at the expense of the public interest, it comes in the form of government regulation.