The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility

Tag Archive for ‘Regulation’

VIDEO: Jon Stewart Dissects Jon Corzine and MF Global

Has anything changed in banking regulation since the crisis of 2008? Consider the case of MF Global Holdings Ltd., a New York-based securities firm that filed for bankruptcy protection on Oct. 31 after disclosing sizable exposure to derivatives and other investments related to billions of dollars in European sovereign debt. The firm was headed by Jon Corzine, a former CEO of Goldman Sachs who subsequently went into politics and was elected U.S. Senator and, later, Governor of New Jersey. In this video clip, “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart compares and contrasts the positions and behavior of Jon Corzine, the politician, with Jon Corzine, the CEO banker.

Do Regulations Really Kill Jobs Overall? Not So Much

Is the claim that regulation kills jobs true? ProPublica asked experts, and most said that while there is relatively little scholarship on the issue, the evidence so far is that the overall effect on jobs is minimal. Regulations do destroy some jobs, but they also create others. Mostly, they just shift jobs within the economy.

A Cradle to Cradle Approach to Environmental Protection

The CEO of carpet maker Desso believes the “Cradle to Cradle” approach to manufacturing could change the design of the world, and not just in the carpeting industry. “It encourages consumers to buy more products,” he writes, “but to do so from innovative companies that have policies in place to recycle old products, turning waste into new products or into nutrients.”

Investors Press Companies on U.S. Chamber Board Roles

A group of investment organizations with about $43 billion in assets under management has sent letters to 35 major companies represented on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urging company managements “to evaluate their role and to assess the risks and benefits of Board membership.”

Opinion: U.S. Chamber of Commerce and A Failure in Governance

Many leading companies strive to follow best practices in corporate governance, demonstrating responsiveness to investors and protecting shareowner value in the process. Paradoxically – argues a leading socially responsible investment executive – some of these same companies often appear to leave their commitment to corporate governance at the doorstep when they serve on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Adding Value and Values to the MBA

When students return to campus in coming weeks, so will debate about the purpose of management education and the role of ethics. Columnist Gael O’Brien wonders whether current business leaders will support training new leaders in skills and competencies that support new models of business – or will it be simply business as usual?

Survey: Companies Lack Basic Sustainability Programs

A Conference Board survey finds that even though corporations lack the structural framework to enable proper director oversight of sustainability programs, they rarely consult outside expertise. At 89 percent of the companies surveyed, directors continue to rely on reports by senior executives for information on social and environmental initiatives.

Senate Bill Changes Rules for Boards, Executive Pay

The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 59-39, requires directors to win by majority vote in uncontested elections, gives the SEC authority to grant shareholders proxy access to nominate directors and gives shareholders the right to a nonbinding vote on executive pay. The measure must be reconciled with a House bill.

Proxy Advisors Find Themselves in the Spotlight

Proxy advisory services play a key role because institutional holders turn to them for advice when voting billions of shares at annual meetings. Questions are now being raised about the influence of the services and whether more formal oversight is needed. As a result, proxy advisory services may be about to start receiving their own report cards for a change.

VIDEO:Morgan Stanley Chair Says Regulation Is #1 Issue

John Mack, Chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley, says that in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008-09, the number one issue for the financial industry is regulation. “We need to find some link to bring regulators around the world together, and a more systematized way of communicating and understanding risk,” Mack says. “We need to figure out a way that we have a systemic risk manager and make sure they have the resources to understand, monitor and help regulate our industry.”