Question
(Q7) 'Businesses should focus on making profit, not on social and environmental aims.' Discuss this statement. (9 marks)
Mark scheme (levelled):
Level 3 (7–9) — Two contrasting views with examples and reasoned conclusion.
Agree: without profit there is no business — profit pays staff, taxes and shareholders. Friedman's view: a business's only social responsibility is to make profit within the law. Social/environmental aims can be expensive, distract from competitiveness.
Disagree: customers increasingly choose ethical/sustainable brands (Patagonia, Tony's Chocolonely) — social aims drive long-term profit. Employees prefer purpose-driven work. Investors require ESG disclosure (Climate Action 100+, B Corp). Ignoring social/environmental costs risks reputational damage and regulation.
Reasoned conclusion: profit and purpose are not opposed — well-run modern businesses treat them as complementary, not contradictory.
Level 2 (4–6) — Some balance. Level 1 (1–3) — Generic. 0 — no relevant content.
9 marks · take your time before peeking.
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Generated by TopMyGrade AI · cross-check official sources before relying on the mark-scheme phrasing.