The Rule of Law is one of the ideals of democracy and Western society.[1] Historically it has been the great equalizer, the guarantor of a common set of rules and equality, fairness and dignity for all. However, legal scholars and commentators have recognized that rising economic inequality can undermine a well-functioning democracy and the rule…
How is it that at a time of unprecedented focus on leadership and corporate culture — by regulatory authorities, Boards, stakeholders, leadership and management consultants, and a virtual flood of books, articles, degree programs, and big-budget training efforts — stunning organizational and leadership failures continue to take place at the highest levels in both the…
Global warming and climate change is already here, striking countries across the world with increasing severity. It impacts every part of the globe, every community, every business, and every person. With decades of climate change denial, suppression, and – ultimately – climate policy failure both domestically and abroad, can we break the cycle?[1] The answer…
The world appears to be fraying at the edges, with fundamental social, economic and political divides peppered with overheated and demeaning rhetoric, refusal to compromise, loss of trust, and partisanship all the time.[1]And such a disaffected and divided world is a significant threat to our society.[2] Addressing these issues is “an economic necessity”, as they…
We today “reap the benefits of public services built by previous generations” and corporate leaders “more willing to pay taxes”. But what will we be passing on to future generations?[1] Across Western society, “in the name of austerity, we put off investments critical to our future. We also put off the maintenance of our existing…
Current international tax law and its underlying principles are no longer grounded in the reality of today’s economics, digital business models and the global economy, undermining common sense and promoting widespread corporate tax avoidance. The result? Countries across the world compromised in their ability to fund the public goods of modern societies, and their citizens…
Judicial independence is a bedrock principle of the rule of law. Why? Because an independent judiciary is the key to upholding the rule of law in a free society, maintaining public confidence in the justice system, and is critical to promoting a peaceful and inclusive society. Few principles are more important than the rule of…
For companies, geopolitical risk is fundamentally about the probability that a political action or environment will significantly affect their business – whether positively or negatively.[1] In this context, the next decade will be a period of political uncertainty across the globe. Business leaders can expect to face daunting leadership and strategic challenges amid the turbulence and…
From Volkswagen’s DieselGate to Wells Fargo’s banking scandal,[1] the breadth and nature of high-profile corporate[2] and government[3] scandals and well-publicized corruption is staggering. Headlines aside, ethical misconduct is hardly uncommon today – nearly half of all fraud cases are not publicly reported[4] and over 40% of executives surveyed in a recent study said “they could…
Despite recent developments and initiatives striving to protect and promote long-term corporate strategy and sustainable value creation,[1] short-term perspectives still predominate throughout the investment value chain and dominate decisions in boardrooms.[2] It is troubling how deeply the short-term mindset has permeated corporate culture across the globe. The markets relentless demand for profit growth on a quarterly…
