Profits versus Starvation: A Balanced Biofuels Scorecard

The headline reads, Biofuels Under Attack as Food Prices Soar. Doesn't this story serve as reductio ad absurdam of double bottom line accounting? We can say that a biofuels company does well by doing good in that it makes a profit while reducing global warming.  Young idealistic college grads flock to the firm. Social investors pump in the social investment dollars. Presidents beam. Then it turns out that every 100 gallons created costs the life of a child in Biafra. Now, as the PR person for the biofuels company, what data gets into your advertising? As the double bottom line accountant, in the spirit of Jed Emerson, what data makes it onto your balanced scorecard? These are ethical and political issues, and they partake of the nature of tragedy, which Hegel characterized as a "splitting of the ethical substance."  What international body will develop a balanced scorecard to balance benefits for rich and poor in developed and undeveloped countries? And through what process, elective or otherwise, will that body draw its legitimacy?  

Comments

[the beheaded marketer]

A random question, Dr. Phil: why do you not have ads on your blog? Certainly someone with your audience could charge quite a hefty fee. Perhaps donate the proceeds to charity? Or establish the Cubeta Boarding School for Rich Brats, heavy on the use of the board?

[Phil]

Check the bottom of the side bar. Look for a pair of thigh high boots. I do indeed take ads but only from my generous patron, she who rules us all.