Milton Friedman was an economist and a strong proponent of the idea that businesses should prioritize maximizing shareholder value. He argued against the idea of stakeholder theory, which suggests that companies should consider the interests of all stakeholders, not just shareholders, in their decision-making.
Friedman's main argument against stakeholder theory was that businesses have a sole responsibility to their shareholders, who have invested their money in the company with the expectation of earning a return on their investment. According to Friedman, businesses that try to satisfy the demands of various stakeholders, such as employees, customers, and suppliers, at the expense of shareholder returns are engaging in "socialist" behavior that undermines the efficient operation of the market economy.
Friedman also argued that businesses should not take on social or political causes because they lack the expertise and democratic legitimacy to do so. In his view, social and political issues are best addressed by government institutions and civil society organizations, not by businesses.
Furthermore, Friedman believed that businesses that engage in activities that benefit society, such as philanthropy or environmental initiatives, are effectively taxing their shareholders to support social causes that they may not agree with. He argued that it is not the role of businesses to make such decisions, but rather the role of individual shareholders and society as a whole.
Overall, Friedman's arguments against stakeholder theory were grounded in his belief that the sole responsibility of businesses is to maximize profits for their shareholders, and that businesses should not engage in activities that are outside of their core competencies or that may negatively impact shareholder returns.