Hypocrisy penalty: Investors especially hate companies that say they’re good then behave badly – unless the money is good
Investors don’t like it when companies do one thing and then say another. Adam Gault/Photodisc via Getty Images The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Stock investors punish companies caught doing something unethical a lot more when when these businesses also have
The ethical values and behaviours of CEOs play a crucial role in attracting new talent
New research has found that CEO ethics are more important to young job seekers than corporate social responsibility acts. (Shutterstock) In today’s job market, where highly skilled workers are scarce and specialized skills are in high demand, employers are facing the challenge of filling job positions. This s
Greenwashing: energy companies make false claims about sustainability – they should be held to account
A farmer walks on a marshy shore of a river polluted by oil spills in Nigeria’s Niger delta, region. Pius Utomi Ekpei/ AFP Companies implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a way to present an environmentally responsible image and therefore gain legitimacy in the eyes of their stakeholders. But som
Blockbuster exhibitions: how France is organising to tackle their mammoth environmental footprint
On the website of the Rijksmuseum, the blockbuster exhibition on Johannes Vermeer (10 February – 4 June 2023) is branded “the largest exhibition ever”. However, visitors’ hopes are soon dashed by a note informing them the show is sold out. “All of Vermeer’s works can still be admired via the online
Corporate social responsibility: Why family businesses get more bang for their buck than non-family firms
While family owners can sometimes be bad for business, they can also be beneficial in many ways. (Shutterstock) When it comes to turning corporate social responsibility (CSR) into profit, research shows family businesses have the advantage. CSR is a form of self-regulation where businesses make concerted effort
No, BlackRock is not leading a Marxist assault on capitalism
shutterstock Five years ago it would have been unimaginable, but today there is a global movement convinced the world’s largest corporations are engaging in stealth warfare to transform liberal democracies into neo-communist dictatorships. At the heart of this corporate-led Marxist revolution, apparently, is
How changing banks’ corporate social responsibility reporting could prevent future financial failures
A company’s internal structure can provide protection from external events. Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) – the failure of the biggest US lender since the 2008 global financial crisis – has created waves across the global banking system. The subsequent coll
Plastic pollution in Nigeria: whose job is it to clean up the mess?
Companies can do more to reduce plastic waste. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images Take a walk or drive through the streets of most Nigerian cities, and you will see plastic waste everywhere. The country’s rivers, lakes and ocean are also full of discarded plastic. Nigeria is estimated to generate about 2.5
How the 2022 World Cup has highlighted the complexities of corporate activism
Mix and Match Studio/Shutterstock Nations and players, and even a number of French cities have criticised Fifa’s decision to award the 2022 men’s football World Cup hosting duties to Qatar. But when a company does the same, it can run the risk of being accused of “greenwashing” or even “wokewashing”
How businesses can collaboratively ‘walk the talk’ on social and economic challenges
A new approach to business regulation is needed to suit the current economic context and address pressing global issues. (Shutterstock) Businesses are facing increasing pressures to tackle social and environmental challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss and inequality. However, most businesses are fai