That may at times be true in practice, but it does not accurately describe the corporate role in theory. It is true to corporate behavior is never theoretically altruistic, however it is intended to be ethical as the corporate institution should function in furtherance of its own long term self interests. Toward that end socially beneficial conduct occurs not due to altruism but in recognition of the reality that the long term self interests on the corporate institution rest in part with the long term self interests of the society in which it functions. Ethical behavior is essential to the self interests of the society and thus, in theory, to the corporate actor as well.

The problems we see in corporate behavior are not a function of the theoretical role of the corporation in society, they are a function of avarice in man preventing the corporation from fulfilling its intended role.