Incentives for companies with a common good balance sheet.
Accounted companies do more for society than just paying wages and taxes. For their commitment and the possible competitive disadvantages they accept, they should receive certain privileges as recognition and to mitigate these (e.g. reduced lease interest, TBD).
Problem
- Our economic system glorifies profit maximization even though this often happens at the expense of people and the environment.
- The common good accounting is a solution but it is voluntary. There is too little incentive for a company to take this path. Although recognized and proven in practice, it is too little known as a useful tool.
- Common good accounting requires a certain administrative effort. As an entrepreneur, I want to keep this as low as possible or make it worthwhile.
Solution
- The behavior of a company is recorded, evaluated, and audited in the common good balance sheet. Externalized costs such as environmental sins or profit maximization at the expense of the common good negatively affect the result. Companies become comparable as a result.
- Companies with a common good balance sheet receive certain privileges, which can be designed depending on a ranking (e.g., scale from 0 to 1000).
- The privileges for local companies with a common good balance sheet must be decided by politics. For smaller municipalities, this could happen via the municipal assembly. For the city of Zurich, the city council is responsible, possibly involving the municipal council.
- Common good-oriented businesses should be given preferential consideration in public contracts.
- Discounted use of municipal spaces for businesses with a common good orientation.
Benefit
Public support
Total votes: 17
Breakdown: FullyOnBoard: 8, SoundsGood: 4, NoChance: 2, NeedForDiscussion: 2, Concerns: 1