“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did something extraordinary as a preface to revoking the Endangerment Finding—they revised how they evaluate air pollution rules by not counting the benefits of lives saved and illnesses avoided. The technical term for what disappeared is the ‘value of a statistical life’ (VSL)—previously measured at approximately $11.7 million per person. In its place? Nothing. Zero.”
Read More“Capitalism is a simple bargain: you provide cash and in exchange you receive a share of ownership. Owning property comes with rights, the right to vote on who will represent you on the board of directors, the right to request and receive information needed to decide if you want to sell or buy more shares, and the right to have a dialogue with management to raise material concerns that affect the value of your asset.”
Read MoreCorporate boards and management face a stark and defining choice this proxy season. Shifting political winds in Washington – and a retreat by the SEC from investor protection and enforcement – will offer companies what might seem like a ‘get out of jail free’ card.
But this proxy season and the three years that follow will be a litmus test for corporate America.
Read MoreIn recent remarks at the “Revitalizing America’s Markets” event, SEC Chair Paul Atkins laid out a plan that would fundamentally redefine what it means to be a public company in the United States.
Read MoreDEI is everywhere these days. Perhaps you attended Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training at work or heard the loaded term “DEI hire” on cable news. Advocates argue diversity initiatives dismantle systemic biases that keep the best workers from being hired and promoted.
Read MoreAs the 2025 proxy season passes its high point, several patterns have emerged in the engagement, filing, and voting outcomes of shareholder proposals. Despite continued anti-shareholder narratives and heightened political and legal scrutiny of Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) issues, information to date indicates that market participants remain actively engaged on ESG[1] issues, with notable strategic shifts in tactics and tone.
Read MoreI was recently interviewed byFortune on the debate around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. As the CEO of a nonprofit that represents shareholders, I approach the issue of human capital management from a financial and business perspective. After all, it is the fiduciary duty of investors and their representatives—among them asset and retirement fund managers—to reduce material risk and optimize long-term financial sustainability for all stakeholders
Read MoreDo you know how your 401(k) funds are invested—the kind of companies they hold, and what those companies are doing to respond to urgent global risks like climate change? There’s a good chance that, like almost half of workers, you don’t. You hand your contributions over to the plan, which puts them in whatever investments your employer and their fund manager have picked.
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