history of the american corporation. now let's harness this for good - jeff mendelsohn
DESCRIPTION
Jeff Mendelsohn of New Leaf Paper discusses the historical purpose and rights of the first American corporations, how businesses were intended to serve the public good, and thus builds the foundation for why corporations can be a force for good.TRANSCRIPT
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The History and Future of the American Corporation
Jeff MendelsohnNew Leaf Paper
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Inathree‐hourperiod,theBostoniansturnedapproximately120,000poundsofdryteainto“harbortea.”Somuchwasdumpedthattheteapiledupintheshallowwaterandthreatenedtospillbackontothedecks.
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YoucanreadtheConstitutionfromfronttoback,including
alltheamendmentsaddedtothedocumenttothepresentday,
andnotseeasingleinstance
oftheword“corporation.”
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TheDNAofcorporatecode
Influencesbehavior.
Corporationsarethemostpowerfulforceonearth.
Let’sharnessthispowerforgood.
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Ancient Forests and the Paper Industry • 80% of the world’s large tracts
of ancient forests have already been logged.
• 76 countries have lost all of their original forest cover
• 1/3 of all trees logged are used for paper production
• Global paper consumption is expected to double in the next 15 years
SOURCE: www.marketsinitiative.org
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© 2008 New Leaf Paper. All rights reserved. New Leaf Paper www.newleafpaper.com 888-989-5323
Our mission is to inspire ~ through our success ~
a fundamental shift toward sustainability in the paper industry.
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WehaveasayingatNewLeaf
“Therearenobadpeople,thereareonlybadsituations.”
ThecurrentDNAofthecorporationisabadsituation.
Sustainablebrands?
Allbrandsshouldbesustainable.
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Whocameupwithourcorporatecode?
Howhasitevolvedovertime?
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Thecorporateform,characterizedbyacharterandjoint‐stockownership,wasnotthetypicalwaybusinesseswere
organizedinthecolonies.
Mostbusinesseswereownedbyfamilies
orpartnerships.Theyhadnocorporatecharters,nordidtheyneedthem.
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• AtthetimeoftheConstitutionalConventionin1787,onlysixbusinesscorporationsotherthanbanksexistedintheUnitedStates:– onefororganizingafisheryinNewYork– oneforconductingtradeinPennsylvania– oneforconductingtradeinConnecticut– oneforoperatingawharfinConnecticut– oneforprovidingfireinsuranceinPennsylvania– oneforoperatingapierinBoston
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• Theirvisionwastosubordinatecorporationstodemocraticoversight,thenmakeuseofthistamedinstitutionasatoolformeetingthepent‐upneedforinfrastructuresuchasroadsandbridges.
• Suchanotionof“good”corporationsderiveddirectlyfromtheexperienceofWashingtonandFranklin,amongothers.
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• JamesMadisontwiceproposedputtingthefederalgovernmentinchargeofcorporations“incaseswherethepublicgoodmayrequirethemandtheauthorityofasinglestatemaybeincompetent.”
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• AtthetimeoftheConstitutionalConventionin1787,onlysixbusinesscorporationsotherthanbanksexistedintheUnitedStates:– onefororganizingafisheryinNewYork– oneforconductingtradeinPennsylvania– oneforconductingtradeinConnecticut– oneforoperatingawharfinConnecticut– oneforprovidingfireinsuranceinPennsylvania– oneforoperatingapierinBoston
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1809.VirginiaSupremeCourt
Statedthatachartershouldnotbe
grantediftheapplicant’s
“objectismerelyprivateorselfish;
ifitisdetrimentalto,
ornotpromotiveof,thepublicgood….”
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Anti‐corporatesentimentshouldnotbeconfusedwithanti‐businesssentiment.
Inthepublicmind,theuseofthecorporateformwasassociated
withmonopolyprivileges
ofonesortofanother.
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QUASI-RIGHT AVAILABLE AVAILABLE TO WHEN? TO PEOPLE? CORPORATIONS?
Limited liability No Gradual statutory revision 1820- for shareholders by states 1900 Perpetual existence No Switch by states from late
custom charters to general 1800s incorporation
Virtual location No New Jersey general incorporation 1889 law
Indefinite entity or No New Jersey general incorporation 1889 “shape shifting” law Protection from No Judicial revision of 1850- lawsuits common law tort; statutory present
immunities for particular industries
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TheDNAofcorporatecode
influencesbehavior.
Corporationsarethemostpowerfulforceonearth.
Let’sharnessthispowerforgood.