Part 9/13:
Business practices have also evolved, yet the quest to maximize shareholder value has created its own brand of perverse incentives. Historical precedents, such as Henry Ford's battles against minority shareholders in the early 1900s, shaped corporate law to necessitate that companies prioritize shareholders' short-term interests. This drastic strategic shift saw CEOs pushed into riskier business models for immediate gains, often at the expense of long-term sustainability and employee welfare.