Without paywall: https://outline.com/PUAZEj https://outline.com/PUAZEj Much of this can be summarized as "Modern business must acknowledge the nuance of modern

Without paywall: https://outline.com/PUAZEj https://outline.com/PUAZEj Much of this can be summarized as "Modern business must acknowledge the nuance of modern demand." The traditional phrasing 'maximise profit' is still valid - It's people's perception of what 'profit' means that needs to change, or even just perception on how to most effectively gain that profit. This is a good thing. Consumers are starting to demand that products cater for all stakeholders - Not just themselves. Externalities are being offset. Organizations that purely look at the bottom line (tangible $) are missing the point (and by extension alienating a new and growing type of consumer) - There are hidden costs & benefits to consider. Saving $1 in costs could cost $2 in brand perception. A more discerning worldwide customer base over time (through education, technology, availability of information) will force capitalism to shift. The premium tier is already transitioning over to more 'holistic' capitalism, where companies will identify and address all externalities. The wedge at the bottom is the issue - The mass produced, 'use once' plastic widgets. Consumers without $ can't afford to look at higher tiers of Maslow's hierarchy, so demand is closer to a simple, traditional model (function + price). This is an inevitable and arguably sensible way to transition to more ethical capitalism anyway - As Tesla have correctly applied (target premium tier, then work downwards). Discerning customers are the ones with disposable $ - They can afford to shoulder some of the offsets, and they can afford to care about such things and start to demand them. The question still exists though - Will the 'cheap' end of markets resolve themselves by adopting proven technology from above? (Once premium tiers have introduced maturity and economies of scale for ethical operations, then it is viable for lower quality products). And will all consumers become discerning and conscious enough about externalities to help swing this shift? The cynical answer is no, which moves us to the argument that legislative state intervention is absolutely necessary to prevent future costs* (e.g. mass migration from climate change). *Comprehensive costs, not just $ costs - Including negative emotion, lost productivity, general wellbeing of the world populace, reduction of poverty, population health, life expectancy and mobility, and opportunity costs