Jinx wrote:

>> For example, a company may decide to keep an elderly employee on payroll
>> until retirement.........There are many such decisions, where profit
>> maximization -- whatever period -- is not the primary goal
> 
> You can't deny that altruism has PR value though. A company that doesn't
> appear ** to throw widows and orphans out in the snow because they've
> outlived their usefullness or makes a fuss about doing its bit for the
> environment is going to be seen more favourably by the consumer

Of course. But it depends on the objective -- we were talking about
priorities. For some, this may well be a PR decision (and as such part of
profit maximization). 

But for others, it's about feeling good doing the "right thing". For still
others, it's simply what they do. And for some, it might be /the/ reason to
have their own business being able to do this despite it not being
profitable.

Gerhard

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