Corporate social responsibility should not be simply a reactive affair, say Rajat Gupta and Paul Coombes. Companies should become more proactive, engaging NGOs and other organizations in full debate and promoting the positive aspects of their agendas. In this way, they can turn corporate social responsibility to everyone’s advantage – After a year filled with…
Sustainable development and improved corporate governance will be the hallmarks of successful business in the 21st century. Those who ignore this trend risk a backlash from financial markets as much as from society itself. Robert Kinloch Massie reports on how the combined forces of two powerful investor movements are redefining investment risk and boardroom strategy…
After the recent scandals, only a complete overhaul of business ethics can restore the integrity of the corporate and financial worlds. What is needed, above all, is leadership. Jeffrey Garten spells out what needs to be done – and who needs to do it. – American business scandals have usually unfolded in a predictable pattern….
The recent lapses in corporate behaviour raise serious questions about the future of the democratic capitalist system. The responsibility now, says US secretary of commerce Donald Evans, is on CEOs to show by their actions that responsible corporate stewardship can be a force for good – and that capitalism works. – Each year, the World…
The global challenges of our times – whether political, economic or social – can be mastered only through intelligent, targeted and responsible international cooperation, says Heinrich von Pierer – The global economic and political situation is so deeply unsettled that it is virtually impossible to make reasonable forecasts for many markets. We face a daunting…
Enron and subsequent corporate scandals have destroyed public confidence in the business world, in capital markets and in the reliability of financial reporting. How that confidence can best be rebuilt is a matter of fierce debate. But what is beyond argument is that the system is broken and it needs fixing – fast. No industry…
The information revolution will require huge and difficult changes in companies’ organizational, hierarchical and decision-making structures if they are to survive, says Philip Condit We are in a period of unprecedented change. The information revolution will produce social impacts and disruptive transformations, just as the industrial revolution did when it changed civilization from a rural,…
The launch of a business-led regional initiative could pave the way for greater economic integration in east Asia, says Nobuyuki Idei, while strengthening ties with the EU, the US and other trading partners – There are growing uncertainties all around us since 9/11. Corporate scandals in the US have sent shockwaves through the global business…
Enlightened and bold leadership from the US and Europe is needed urgently to rescue the Doha trade round, re-energize the global economy, spread the benefits of trade for all and eradicate the poor conditions in which terrorism thrives, says Niall FitzGerald. The US and the EU will put the success of the Doha trade round…
Intellectual property rights are under attack – above all in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Henry McKinnell argues that patent protection is vital. Without it, he says, huge benefits to science, health care, education and human life will be lost – Back in 1982 Pfizer was on the verge of shutting down a research programme run…
