We investigate the relationship between corporate and country sustainability on the cost of bank loans. We look into 470 loan agreements signed between 2005 and 2012 with borrowers based on 28 different countries across the world and operating in all major industries. Our principal findings...

The paper presents the concept of Fair Trade, which is considered an alternative to conventional trade, and becomes increasingly popular in the Western countries. In addition, some results of empirical research, conveyed in Poland and aimed at diagnosis and assessment of Fairtrade products...

In this research note, I briefly summarize the history of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), from its earliest gestation in 1997, to its initial realization in 1999 and 2000, to its current status circa 2009. Included are descriptive analyses of (a) the sustainability topics and indicators...

The current crises in the UK – economic, political, financial and social – have created an opportunity to re-examine the social contract and the functioning of civil society. Many people have commented upon these crises, their causes and consequences and there have been many attempts to...

It is clear that the definition of corporate governance has extended considerably beyond investor relations and encompasses relations with all stakeholders – including the environment. This is essential for the longer term survival of a firm and is therefore a key component of sustainability....

The global economic recession from which we are just emerging, much as previous recessions, has highlighted failures in governance and failures in regulation. Indeed some have argued that the regulators are more guilty even than the perpetrators and should be sanctioned accordingly. There is of...

Good governance is good PR, it is important in every sphere of society, whether it be the corporate environment, the political, or wider society. When resources are too limited to meet the minimum expectations of the people, it is a good governance level that can help to promote the welfare of...

A key aspect of the governance process inside organizations and markets is the measurement and disclosure of important metrics and information. In this chapter, we examine the effect of sustainability disclosure regulations on firms’ disclosure practices and valuations. Specifically, we...

The current economic situation has highlighted deficiencies in corporate governance while also showing the importance of stakeholder relations. It has also raised the profile of the debates regarding corporate social responsibility and shown the inter-relationship with governance. And the two...

Based on Whitley’s “National Business Systems” (NBS) institutional framework (Whitley 1997; 1999), we theorize about and empirically investigate the impact of nation-level institutions on firms’ corporate social performance (CSP). Using a sample of firms from 42 countries spanning seven...