D. Petkoski, World Bank Institute World Bank Group Corporate Governance and Strategy Distance Learning Course Video Conference November 15, 2001 Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainable Competitiveness-- An Integrated Approach
Bolstering the ties between companies and the communities in which they operate is crucial if economic and social development are really to succeed. James D. Wolfensohn Davos, Switzerland January 31, 2000
Corporate Governance + Corporate Social Responsibilities + Business Ethics = Competitiveness (through people) The Main Equation CG+CSR+BE C
Competitiveness Corporate Governance Corporate Social Responsibilities Business Ethics Leadership and Values Why An Integrated Learning Program?
The Tyranny of Either/Or Maximizing Shareholder Value Company Choice Contributing to Social and Environmental Improvement
Financial Capital â â Debt Commercial bank loans and bond purchases - private and sovereign debt ã ã Portfolio Investment Publicly traded companies (very few in developing countries) More liquid and thus, more volatile ã ã Foreign Direct Investment Bigger impact due to increased access to markets, technology and management know-how
What Does This Mean to You? Previously investors focused on conventional investment risks: Financial Return on Investments Political Stability/Efficacy Regulatory Policy Financial Structure ã ã Currently investors are paying greater attention to: Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
Why We Need Corporate Governance? Because weak corporate governance limits investments in corporations, thus limiting growth and development … And the effectiveness of corporate governance cannot be taken for granted.
Why We Need Corporate Governance? Grabbing Hands of Insiders An oil company skimmed over 30% of revenue, while stiffing its workers on wages, defaulting on tax payments…destroying the value of minority shares... An Example of a Russian firm…
Another Example of Russian firms… Why We Need Corporate Governance? Grabbing Hands of Insiders MarketEstimatedDiscounted ValueActual ValueRatio Firm A$90mil$50bil556 Times Less Firm B $20bil$600bil30 Times Less
Why We Need Corporate Governance? Grabbing Hands of Insiders The strength of private grabbing hands is measured by the difference in the share prices of voting and non-voting shares within a country For example, the difference is 5% in the US, 13% in the UK, 45% in Israel, 32%-45% in Korea, 82% in Italy and higher in the Czech and Russia. And such concerns are echoing across other developing countries, making it more difficult to raise capital to fund future investment projects...
Corporate Governance Investors Perspectives * ã ã Latin America - 70% of respondents had invested in LA 90 respondents with an estimated US$1,650b+ assets under management ã ã Europe/US - 95% of respondents had invested in EU/US 42 respondents with an estimated US$550b+ under management ã ã Asia - 82% of respondents had invested in Asia 84 respondents with an estimate $1,050b+ assets under management *McKinsey Investor Opinion Survey 2000
Corporate Governance Investors Perspectives * ã ã 75% - Board practices are at least as important as financial performance ã ã 80% - Would pay more for shares of a well- governed company then for a poorly governed company with comparable financial performance ã ã Premium differs by country and whether the investor is local or foreign. *McKinsey Investor Opinion Survey 2000
Corporate Governance Investors Are Willing to Pay More For a Company With Good Board Governance Practices
Corporate Governance Investors Agree On the Important Board Tasks
Investors Interests Beyond the Balance Sheet ã ã Ethical and responsible business behavior ã ã Corporate codes of conduct ã ã New ideas and information technology ã ã Western business practices ã ã Environmental, energy efficiency, health and safety standards ã ã Workplace issues: compensation, benefits and training ã ã Volunteerism, charitable giving, and community activism ã ã Rule of law
Socially Responsible Investment Going Beyond Corporate Governance ã ã Funds that pass multiple, broad-based social or ethical screens, e.g., community involvement, environment, employee relations, product-related issues, and workplace practices ã ã Seeks to provide shareholders with long-term total return Is rapidly expanding with assets over $2.1 trillion in the United States
Socially Responsible Investment Domini Social Fund Performance
Corporate Social Responsibility Citizens Expectations of Companies* Make Profit, PayOperateImprove Society Taxes, Create JobsBetweenSet Higher Ethical Obey LawsTwo PositionsStandards In %In %In % Australia84345 Canada United States Great Britain Mexico Russia Japan Germany South Africa China * The Millennium Poll on Corporate Social Responsibility, 2000
Corporate Social Responsibility Can Business Do Well By Doing Good? Dow Jones Sustainability Group Indexes (DJSGI) Global Investment Index of Sustainable Companies Outperformed the broader Dow Jones Global Indexes (DJGI) on the 5, 3, and 1 year periods This has focused attention on Corporate Management in general
Corporate Social Responsibility Can Business Do Well By Doing Good? The Millenium Poll on Corporate Social Responsibility, PriceWaterhouseCooper, 2000 ã Company Reputation 60% of consumers form their impression of a company based on labor practices, business ethics, social responsibility, environmental impact ã Consumer Demand 66% of consumers want companies to focus on societal goals in addition to financial performance ãLegal and Civil Penalties 75% of consumers hold companies responsible for avoiding bribery and corruption, avoiding child labor, preventing discrimination, protecting worker health, not harming the environment ãDirect Financial Effects 21% of consumers in the past year report rewarding or punishing companies based on social performance. 21% of consumers in the past year report rewarding or punishing companies based on social performance.
Corporate Social Responsibility Can Business Do Well By Doing Good?* In organizations with formal codes of business ethics, ethics training, and a formal reporting mechanism, employees: Observe Less misconduct Experience less pressure to compromise standards Are more likely to report observed misconduct Are more satisfied with their company Are more satisfied with their job Rate their company higher compared with competitors * National Business Ethics Survey, Ethics Resource Center, 2000
Why Business Ethics? What Do All These Names Have in Common? NBC, Sears, General Electric, Westinghouse, Salomon Brothers, Dow Corning, Pfizer, American Express, Hertz, NYNEX, Northrop, Teledyne, Lockheed, Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young, Price Waterhouse, Alleco, Drexel Burnham Lambert, A. H Robbins, Gitano Group, Cendant, Archer Daniels Midland, Texaco, Mitsubishi, Nike, Prudential, Shell, Union Carbide, Hudson Foods, BCCI, Barings, Maxwell Communications, Sumitomo, Dow Chemical, United Way of America
Why Business Ethics? Financial and Reputational Risks to the Corporation ã ã Assets not used for intended purposes ã ã Non-compliance with laws and regulations ã ã Corrupt behavior, poor business practices ã ã Shareholder activism – boards, senior management are held accountable ã ã Employee responses: impact on quality and productivity Exit, Voice and Loyalty
International Trends Ethical Issues of Corporate Governance ã ã Making management accountable to shareholders ã ã Creating and maintaining adequate control systems ã ã Ensuring Board oversight of corporate management Ordinary decency–fairness, honesty–are central ethical principles of corporate governance
OECD, ICC, Russian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong EDC, Gulf Centre EE, U. S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines, OAS, TI, Ethics South Africa International Trends Ensuring Management Accountability OECD, ICC, Russian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong EDC, Gulf Centre EE, U. S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines, OAS, TI, Ethics South Africa ã ã Written code of ethics, business practice standards, prioritized values clearly communicated to provide broad and specific guidance ã ã Senior executive/management, oversight and reporting, visible commitment by organizational leaders ã ã Formal mechanisms, e.g., helpline/hotline, to report suspected instances of improper conduct Staff encouraged to make reports Disciplinary, corrective actions are taken Fair and consistent enforcement ã ã Regular communication/training on the standards, business practices, values of the organization ã ã Internal and external auditing and monitoring, ethical work culture assessments/surveys, regular review of policies, procedures, business practices