The Start-Up of Charleson, Entrepreneurial Journal Entry

  Virtue and Integrity in the Economy Virtue and integrity are essential to a functioning economy because they create trust, which is the foundation of all economic transactions. In the first two pages of Charles Handy's "What’s a Business For?" he highlights how widespread corporate scandals and unethical practices have eroded trust, which is vital for both public confidence and market stability. Without integrity, markets collapse under the weight of fraud and misrepresentation, leading to systemic failures. Handy argues that virtue is not an optional moral nicety but a practical necessity for sustaining economic systems. When businesses act virtuously, they foster relationships with customers, employees, and communities built on credibility and mutual respect, creating an environment where commerce thrives. The Real Justification for Business According to Handy, the “real justification” for the existence of businesses is not merely to generate profit but to contribute ...