Happy EconEdMonth! Celebrate economics all month long by visiting EconEdMonth.org

Grade 9-12
,
Lesson

Do Businesses Have Social Responsibility?

Time: 45 min,
Updated: April 24 2023,
Author: Chris Cannon
Teacher Version
Objective Standards Description Resources
Print

Objective

Students will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast views on the social responsibility of business.
  • Evaluate the responsibilities of business.

Standards

National Standards in Economics

State Standards

Concepts

Business Costs and Revenues, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Profit

Description

Through a short simulation, a primary source discussion, and creating a verbal pitch for a company’s board of directors, students consider perspectives related to whether or not businesses have a social responsibility.  This lesson is part of the Ethics, Economics, and Social Issues curriculum.

The simulation specifically uses volunteerism and charitable donations as examples of actions that might be considered social responsibility. Students experience how companies have competing interests in how to use their resources and what benefits and costs are involved with allocating resources to social responsibility.

Resources

 

Subjects:

Related Resources

Grades 9-12

Does Self-Interest Prevent Economic Justice?

In Lesson #7 0f the Ethics, Economics, and Social Issues curriculum, students explore basic ideas of justice by examing government...
Key Concepts: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Incentives, Veil of Ignorance
60 mins
Lesson

Grades 9-12

Can You Conduct Research Ethically?

In Lesson #2 of the "Ethics, Economics, and Social Issues" curriculum, students learn about positive and normative economics and how...
Key Concepts: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Normative Economics, Positive Economics
60 min
Lesson