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One of the most mind-blowing things I learned in school is the idea of externalities. Externalities are effects created by the operation of a business, whose costs are not borne by the business. They are fundamental to our economy. We are so used to them we don’t see them
Pollution created by an industrial plant is a perfect example. The whole community bears the cost of the pollution, not only the dollar cost but the health costs as well. The rampant sexual harassment and threats of violence at McDonald’s stores are externalities.
These problems are a direct result of the store’s operation but management says oh well, what do you want us to do? In general, workplace violence is seen as an insoluble problem because CEOs know it will be expensive to address it.
Uber and Lyft launch ridesharing apps and taxi drivers see the value of their medallions plummet and kill themselves, oh well, sucks for them. Companies underpay their employees and the whole community suffers, sounds like a personal issue to us (yawn)
Not only do we have to hold individual organizations responsible for the damage they do to people, but we have to stop seeing business as a freestanding institution with the right to do whatever it wants. We are one community of working people, consumers & shareholders
Standing up for all of us is how we help ourselves
