corporate greed

Corporate greed describes the pursuit of profit by businesses to an extent that is seen as excessive, harmful, or morally objectionable.

The term is almost always used critically, suggesting that a company prioritizes shareholder returns over the welfare of workers, consumers, communities, or the environment.

They blamed corporate greed for the layoffs.

It functions as a catchall accusation in political discourse, though what counts as greed versus legitimate profit-seeking depends on the speaker's values.