Write an essay that argues whether a firm’s sole objective is profit maximization. You will base your thesis off
of four required readings and any additional evidence necessary to support your arguments.
The required readings are:
• Coase (1937)
• Mcwilliams and Siegel (2001)
• Business Roundtable 19 August 2019 Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation
• Larry Fink’s January 2020 Letter to CEOs
An optional and highly suggested reading is:
• Besley and Ghatak (2017)
(All attached files)
Writing is a key component of many STEM professions, but often a scarce component of
many STEM courses. This writing assignment aims to fill that gap. Specifically, the objective
of this assignment is to improve your writing for STEM themes by emphasizing the ability
to formconcise, factual statements regarding ideas whose material content is fundamentally
mathematical or scientific, a learned skill which requires persistent practice and training.
Your task is to respond to the research question drawing on the required readings and your
coursework in a formal, written essay. Further, you should collect data/evidence and do additional
background research if necessary to assist in carrying out informed, critical reflection
and analysis of the readings.
The essay should be two pages in length with standard margins and font characteristics.
There will be a penalty for essays that do not conform do this standard. The essay should be
organized in paragraphs. The first paragraph serves as an introduction, states the thesis, and
sets the context. Body paragraphs should develop and support the thesis. Each paragraph
opens with a strong topic sentence that announces the content of that paragraph and ends
with a sentence that pulls it together. The last paragraph concludes the essay by reminding
the reader how each of the economic arguments made work together to support the thesis.
When you apply concepts from the course to your argument, you are expected to carry out
economic analysis that is at the level of intermediate microeconomics. Charts and diagrams
necessarily supplement any analysis. Example essays will be provided.