Prosperity

"Mayer of the Saïd Business School at Oxford is one of the world's foremost critics of the idea that the aim of companies is to maximise shareholder value. This, he argues cogently, represents a betrayal of one of humanity's most extraordinary inventions."

— Martin Wolf, Books of the Year 2018, The Financial Times

"[A] remarkable and radical new book." 

— Martin Wolf, The Financial Times

"Mayer's manifesto recasts the company's place in society."

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, The Financial Times

"This is a timely and highly insightful treatise on the urgent need to revisit today's misguided and simplistic views on the purpose of the corporation. It is a significant contribution addressing the growing e onomic and social challenges confronting us today."

— Cyrus Ardelan, Chairman, Citigroup Global Markets Ltd

"Here is the case for reinventing the corporation so that it serves human well-being. Colin Mayer shows both why an exclusive focus on shareholder value is damaging, and how purposeful changes could support trustworthy corporations that combine social and business benefits."

— Baroness Onora O'Neill of Bengarve, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge

"A powerful reply to the steadily increasing criticism of free market businessâ So far, the defenders of capitalism have failed to find a convincing voice or to offer any significant ways to improve how businessâis perceived. Now Colin Mayer provides answers and a coherent manifesto for change."

— Peter Chadwick, IEDP Book Reviews

"A wonderful manifesto for change and essential reading for any who remain to be convinced that business can -- and should -- be a force for a societal good. One of the most insightful and comprehensive accounts yet of how and why the corporation needs to change if it is to meet the needs and expectations of a new era. Thoughtful and well-argued, Mayer has done the cause of enlightened capitalism great service."

— Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever

"Businesses have a duty to do well by stakeholders as well as shareholders. How did too many corporations lose their sense of purpose? What is the right path to build responsible, sustainable relationships with society? This insight-rich book offers a comprehensive guide for restoring trust between companies, consumers, and communities. Professor Mayer makes a compelling argument that the purpose and values of modern corporations have been diluted and it will take the work of executives, legislators, regulators, bankers, investors, and even shareholders to fix."

— Dominic Barton, Global Managing Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company

"With characteristic courage and purposeful passion, Mayer challenges the status quo as to who corporations serve and benefit. Prosperity presents a paradigm shift, revealing tomorrowâs corporation today. It marks the start of a new age of enlightenment, which will stimulate the sensibilities of all who care about the role of business in society."

— Guy Jubb, former Global Head of Governance and Stewardship, Standard Life Investments

"Our world does not have long for business to escape its 40 year-long capture by the Chicago school. This book is an historic milestone in economic theory because it marks the final nail in Milton Friedmanâs intellectual coffin. It does this by illuminating a pragmatic pathway for business and policy makers to follow, to escape an anachronistic orthodoxy that is killing our beautiful planet and our precious communities. They must study it closely and then move fast, so that we all - and those who come after us - might avoid calamity and, instead, prosper."

— James Perry, Chairman of Cook

"In his humane and readable book, Colin Mayer makes a compelling case for a new concept of the corporation, and the need to treat corporate purpose as far more than shareholder value. In showing how restoring trust is key to a true future prosperity, it will reframe much of our thinking on this central subject."

— The Hon. Mr Justice William Blair, High Court Judge of England and Wales

"One of the most pressing questions facing the world today is 'What is the role of the corporation in society?' Thanks to Professor Colin Mayer we now have a definitive answer: the corporation's role is to fulfill its purpose. In an intellectual and very readable tour de force, Professor Mayer brings to bear an astonishing range of academic disciplines to present a very practical framework for how company's need to be managed today. For their own sake and the sake of us all."

— Robert Eccles, Founding Chairman of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and Professor of Management Practice, University of Oxford

"The financial crisis and its aftermath called for answers; questions were raised instead. Our corporate and political environments have been severely shaken for more than a decade. We have to find new approaches and look for better answers to bring our social market economies into balance. Colin Mayer relentlessly challenges conventional wisdom, combining diverse academic fields and bringing business to meet academia. Prosperity is building on a wealth of research looking at the broader picture and its many corners to seek appropriate answers to the challenges of our world. Is 'purpose first, Prosperity follows' the answer?"

— Daniela Weber-Rey, non-executive director of HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt and Fnac-Darty

"Rarely in the history of economics and law does a person observe the current state of the world, recognize its deficiencies, and put forth a policy and paradigm that is destined to change the world. John Maynard Keynes in the twenties and thirties and now Colin Mayer are prime examples. This book is destined to be the 'bible' of the Mayer-Paradigm of corporate governance and the template for the policy changes that are necessary to implement it."

— Martin Lipton, Senior Partner Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

"Colin Mayer has elevated the conversation about business and society. Bold enough to reimagine an economic system, specific enough to drive action, Prosperity introduces the higher-order thinking necessary to build a more Inclusive Capitalism."

— Lynn Forester de Rothschild, CEO of E.L. Rothschild and the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism

"Prosperity makes a limpidly clear and convincing case for an urgent re-think of the role of business in society. The fifty years since Friedman gave the doctrine of 'shareholder value' totemic significance have seen the interests of proprietors, governments and communities diverge. This has produced unacceptable inequalities in outcomes and shocking destruction of the environment. The arguments Colin makes for radical reform of the role of the corporation in society are compelling, and rooted in common sense and fairness. I hope that many others involved in defining the purpose of their business s learn as much from Prosperity as I have."

— Peter Norris, Chairman of Virgin Group

"[Colin Mayer's] book is a resounding paean and radical road map towards a bright future for the corporation and capitalism." 

— The Financial Times.