Suchergebnisse

AbstractItaly was governed by one party from 1946 to 1993: the Christian Democrats (Democrazia Cristiana or DC). Initially, the DC Party adopted policies in the classical and conservative tradition to cope with poverty: agrarian reform, expansive fiscal policies, and social housing. After the Second Vatican Council, which led to growing acceptance of the "preferential option for the poor," a radical change emerged in the DC Party regarding some social‐democratic policies: the party endorsed universal healthcare and social pensions and assistance. The fundamental idea was the "decommodification" of basic services. In these reforms, there were some good results as well as some failures. There were also difficulties with public finances.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the argument that in principle any company can become a good company by adopting certain characteristics which define the good in enterprise affairs and affirm and reinforce everyone with a stake in the company – managers, workers, suppliers, customers, and communities where it operates – in addition to its owners.Design/methodology/approachTo identify the characteristics of the good company the paper turns to Catholic social teaching, with its traditional emphasis on the importance of practising virtue in worldly affairs. In this regard, the paper relies heavily on the writings and public statements of Pope John Paul II, who addressed these matters with great clarity and insight.FindingsIn its research the paper finds eight characteristics by which the good company can be identified and which, if embraced by the leadership of a willing and committed enterprise, can help to transform it into a good company. Each of the eight is addressed in some detail.Originality/valueThe paper examines a vast body of writings that, according to Catholic social teaching, identify the good in enterprise affairs. One of the eight characteristics, personalist capital, advances the proposal that the good company routinely maximizes virtue among its stakeholders and thereby enhances its own profitability because the virtuous person is the more effective economic agent.