5 août 2018

Representing the leading international instrument on corporate responsibility can be frustrating at times. Part of that frustration is self-inflicted. Much of it has to do with communication. The bureaucratic jargon has often haunted me. More...

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are the world’s leading instrument on corporate responsibility. They are considered unique because they come with a government-backed grievance mechanism and they cover all areas of business ethics. More...

In the first quarter of 2018, global FDI outflows fell to USD 136 billion from USD 242 billion in the previous quarter. This precipitous drop was largely due to a switch to negative outward FDI from the United States. US outward FDI fell to USD -145 billion, registering negative for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2005. More...

Structural economic reforms – such as labour market and pension reforms – typically imply sacrifices today in exchange for benefits tomorrow. As such, they can be viewed as “social investments”. The popular view, however, is that they represent a bitter medicine against an ill-defined disease. More...

Public employees are the key to better public service, and yet the ways in which they are managed are often outdated.  How should we be managing our public employees and setting public employment policy? What should a fit-for-purpose public service look like?  The OECD and its member countries are developing the first international Recommendation on Public Service Leadership and Capability and we want to hear from you. More...

The world is facing a backlash against globalisation and growing public distrust has significantly impacted a series of national elections. This goes hand-in-hand with a pushback against investment treaties and trade agreements. More...

Over the summer of 2017, one the UK’s leading economic crime prosecutors stood before a jury in London’s Southwark Crown Court to set out a series of damning corruption allegations against Wassim Tappuni, a former World Bank consultant. The prosecutor explained in painstaking detail how Tappuni, in exchange for 65 bribe payments worth £1.7 million, had steered tens of millions of pounds worth of medical equipment contracts in some of the world’s poorest countries. More...

We know already that the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are considered to be the world’s leading instrument on corporate responsibility. But, after 42 years in existence and 5 updates, the question is: are they still fit for purpose? Are they still on the cutting edge of business ethics. More...

Clarity is good. Indeed, a lack of clarity regarding business responsibilities can be a major barrier to change. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises provide recommendations for companies across all areas of business ethics, such as human rights, labour, environment, anti-corruption, disclosure, taxation, and consumer protection, amongst others. More...