well, I was trying to be specific :) - 'the shareholders'. It's not (usually) that way for 'regular' employees and customers, who typically care more about the

well, I was trying to be specific :) - 'the shareholders'. It's not (usually) that way for 'regular' employees and customers, who typically care more about the mission of the venture (if they care at all :) ). But in the context of CEO/executive pay, the shareholders have an enormous influence - they're the ones providing the incentive and direction, in their own self-interest. That's the way the system is designed from bottom to top. Some companies controlled by a small number of investors (typically founders) may have other more socially constructive priorities, but I think in even many of those cases, it's lip service, and the real reason those things are priorities at all are because it's 'good business' (it will be better off for the shareholders financially).