Do Well by Doing Good? Don't Count on It

Joshua D. Margolis; Hillary Anger Elfenbein; James P. Walsh

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Article | Harvard Business Review | January 2008

Do Well by Doing Good? Don't Count on It

by Joshua D. Margolis, Hillary Anger Elfenbein and James P. Walsh

Abstract

Research over 35 years shows only a weak link between socially responsible corporate behavior and good financial performance. However, there's no evidence of risk in doing good, only in being exposed for misdeeds.

Keywords: Values and Beliefs; Profit; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Performance Effectiveness; Behavior;

Format: Print

1 pages

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Citation:

Margolis, Joshua D., Hillary Anger Elfenbein, and James P. Walsh. "Do Well by Doing Good? Don't Count on It." Social Responsibility. Special Issue on HBS Centennial. Harvard Business Review 86, no. 1 (January 2008): 19.

About the Author

Joshua D. Margolis

James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Professor of Business Administration
Unit Head, Organizational Behavior
Chair, Program for Leadership Development

Organizational Behavior

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Do Well by Doing Good? Don't Count on It

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