College of Business Administration

Seminar in Business and the Good Society

Discussion Questions for July 20, 1999:

1. Is "winning" (getting rich) the ultimate goal of individuals in our society?

2. Is winning a zero-sum game? (Does someone else have to give for us to take?)

3. In Japan, many people work for one company their entire lives, eliminating some of the elements (job loyalty, promotion from within, etc.) that are required for a "Winner Take All" society to grow. Does this lower the number of competitors (in a given field) and the quality of their input?

4. Adam Smith is quoted as saying that a person's overconfidence level peaks at the same time that "Young people choose their professions." Do you agree with Smith--is this a good or a bad thing, necessarily?

5. The book's overall premise is that if fewer people competed in "Winner Take All" markets, total societal income would be higher. Is this true?

6. If so, how can people be convinced not to 'shoot for the top?'

7. Is social reconstruction possible?

"An especially precious type of equality--equality not of money, but of the way we treat each other and live our lives seems to be disappearing."--Mickey Kaus

8. Would greater equality in the general allocation of resources result in us treating each other better?

9. The Authors advocate graduated tax rates and consumption taxes instead of the current system? Are these good ideas?

10. What about using incentives (rewarding states that decrease welfare rolls) instead of punishing top performers?

GAAP, FASB, and IASC have come a long way toward standardizing financial statements.

11. What can we do to bring about a standard system in the face of (often conflicting) cultures?

12. The authors argue against tax-payer subsidized state school programs, much like the one we are in.

13. Does anyone here pay full price tuition? Is that fair?

14. Are we mooching off the state of California?

15. Is it any more than "welfare" for the privileged?

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