Can the pursuit of self-interest include empathy, moral restraint, and care for others as part of what it means to flourish? - Adam Smith
We believe that Compassionate capitalism is an economic philosophy that aims to combine the efficiency and innovation of capitalism with a strong sense of social responsibility, empathy, and ethical concern for people and the planet. It’s about making profit with purpose — using markets not just to generate wealth, but also to reduce suffering and improve well-being.
Key Principles
Stakeholder orientation:
Businesses make decisions that benefit everyone affected by their operations, not just investors.Ethical profitability:
Profit isn’t rejected — it’s seen as a means to create sustainable positive impact.Human-centered leadership:
Leaders act with empathy, fairness, and a long-term view rather than short-term exploitation.Sustainability:
Economic activity should respect environmental limits and future generations.Equity and inclusion:
Fair opportunity and Fair wages are central to compassionate capitalism.Corporate citizenship:
Both Small and Big Businesses take active responsibility for improving social conditions, not merely through charity but through their core business practices.
Compassionate capitalism, therefore, treats the market not merely as a machine for allocation, but as a moral ecosystem — one that reflects our collective capacity for empathy. Profit is not inherently immoral; it becomes moral or immoral depending on the intentions behind it and the effects it produces.