Rebalancing power within companies
Overview
The image of a company pursuing only financial profit for the benefit of short-term investors is outdated. It is gradually disappearing in the face of growing public expectations regarding the social and environmental commitment of companies. The competitiveness of a company can only be ensured in the long term by taking into account a range of stakeholders: investors, employees, customers, suppliers, creditors, etc.
Companies are undergoing a transformation, accompanied by financial incentives from investors and the normative power of governments. The balance of governance, performance criteria and remuneration methods are evolving to better include the major challenges facing society. What are the new forms of corporate social and environmental responsibility? Should we continue to adapt their governance to better assume this responsibility? How can institutional investors take more account of CSR criteria? Should governments intervene through standards or taxation to support these developments?