Social contract in public an corporate governance: Metaphor or New Morality ?

The term ‘social contract’ is increasingly present in public governance and corporate governance. The discourse presents the social contract primarily as an ideal of shared responsibilities between state and civil society or between big companies and society in the execution of social policy, sustainability goals and human rights. For example, in 2017, Putters presented the term ‘social contract’ to indicate the desired relationship between government, societal organisations (in his case health organisations, like welfare organisations, hospitals, insurance companies) and citizens in the context of a changing Welfare State. The proposed ‘social contract’ should ensure the rightful execution of policy goals tied to social rights like proper health care. It is presented as part of a new paradigm of public administration and governance to ensure cooperation and solidarity based on responsibility in the context of complexity and change.