Christopher Marquis, a professor at Cambridge Judge Business School, argues that business schools should be abolished. He contends that these institutions, despite attracting ambitious and idealistic students, systematically reshape worldviews toward transactional dealmaking and profit maximization. Marquis, who has taught at Harvard, Cornell, and Cambridge for over 20 years, observes that students often abandon altruistic goals in favor of careers in consulting or finance.
He links the proliferation of MBA-educated leaders to a rise in transactional governance and corporate practices that prioritize wealth transfer over productivity. Citing research by Daron Acemoglu, he notes that firms led by MBA graduates often cut wages without improving performance. Marquis asserts that business schools do not merely reflect the economic system but actively manufacture its harmful priorities, normalizing crises.
He concludes that incremental reforms like ethics classes are insufficient and that abolition is necessary.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing