Good morning. David Meyer here in Berlin, filling in for Alan.
The stakeholder-capitalism model essentially holds that companies are responsible to a wider array of players than just their shareholders. But which stakeholders, and in which order of importance?
A new piece of research from the public-relations giant Weber Shandwick suggests many companies place their home countries very high up that list. In our geopolitically exciting times, this has major implications for corporate risk.
According to the survey, 58% of multinational business executives say their home countries are “very” important stakeholders—the same proportion that say the same about their shareholders. Only customers rate higher, with 63% of respondents saying they are very important stakeholders.
National security, rated by 56% of respondents as a “very” important factor in their decision-making, was seen as more important than diversity and inclusion, the protection of human rights, and climate change. And 87% said their companies should be prepared to be more vocal about geopolitical issues in the coming half-decade.
As Weber Shandwick’s EVP of geopolitical strategy and risk, Michelle Giuda, told me, a vast majority (88%) of executives feel that both governments and the public in their home countries “expect them to take the national interest into account in their business decisions.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, this sentiment is particularly pronounced in China.
Of course, this presents business leaders with quite the tightrope to walk. A whopping 82% of survey respondents said their home country’s national security or economic interests should sometimes trump the company’s bottom line—yet exactly the same proportion said a company must do what is in its own best interest to succeed, regardless of national interests. “Whether to prioritize company versus home country interests is the central tension revealed by the research,” Giuda said.
So does this focus on national interests suggest a weakening of globalization? According to Giuda—a former United States Assistant Secretary of State—the takeaway is that globalization has become “exponentially more complex.”
“There is an entirely new risk calculus for business leaders navigating 21st century geopolitical competition,” Giuda said. “Geopolitical risk today isn’t about one-off flare ups that impact business in the short-term. While not insignificant, corporate leaders have a process and already know how to manage those issues. This is about the tectonic shifts taking place in the contest for economic and technological superiority. Now is the time to strategize and prepare.”
Separately but still on the subject of surveys, a new Deloitte poll suggests business travel will indeed pick up in the second half of this year, but won’t reach anywhere near pre-pandemic levels yet. Only a third of companies think they will match or exceed their 2019 travel spend levels by the end of this year, and little more than half think that situation will come around by the final quarter of next year. And, of course, U.S. business travel will remain largely domestic until other parts of the world lift quarantine mandates. You can read more about that here.
More news below. And do read Emma Hinchliffe’s interview with Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman, who discusses SPACs, meme stocks, and Nasdaq’s approach to cryptocurrencies.
David Meyer
@superglaze
david.meyer@fortune.com
TOP NEWS
IMF injection
The International Monetary Fund's member nations have agreed to create a record $650 billion in reserve assets, to shore up the global economy and help vulnerable countries weather the pandemic. The plan has been under discussion for over a year. Bloomberg
Climate attribution
A U.N. panel will on Monday release a report that will more clearly link extreme weather events, such as this year's heat waves and floods, with climate change. Lead author Friederike Otto: "Every heat wave that is happening today is made more likely and more intense by climate change." Politico
Tencent slump
An op-ed decrying the evils of gaming, published in an offshoot of China's official news agency, has sparked an exodus of Tencent investors who feared the next target of Chinese regulatory ire had just been identified. The company's share price fell as much as 11% today, though some of the losses were recouped after the online version of the article was taken down. Other companies to take a hit included NetEase and XD. Fortune
Amazon vs unions
According to labor representatives, an official from the National Labor Relations Board has recommended a redo of the recent vote in which Amazon employees in Bessemer, Ala. rejected unionization. The official, Kerstin Meyers, apparently said Amazon violated labor law in its handling of the election process. Amazon says it will appeal that recommendation. Wall Street Journal
AROUND THE WATER COOLER
Vaccine goal
The U.S. has finally reached—a month late—President Biden's goal of 70% of adults getting at least one shot of a coronavirus vaccine. The milestone comes amid the Delta surge, which has led many cities and states to reinstate pandemic precautions. Fortune
Aramco crypto
Saudi Aramco has scotched rumors that it is in negotiations to use some of its "flaring" energy for cryptocurrency-mining. Statement: "With reference to recent reports claiming that the company will embark on Bitcoin mining activities, Aramco confirms that these claims are completely false and inaccurate." Fortune
Bitcoin volatility
Sticking with the same subject, here's Shawn Tully's assessment of the latest Bitcoin gyrations: "Its careening course shows once again that Bitcoin is likely the most volatile major asset class ever to be taken seriously. Skeptics might argue that the stumbling and ascents are so extreme, and put investors at such risk, that it shouldn't be taken seriously." Fortune
Chip glut?
Analysts fear the current semiconductor shortage could turn into a semiconductor glut, due to actions governments are taking to increase supply. Lilian Li, vice president and senior credit officer at Moody's: "These major investments could lead to overcapacity and inefficient investment allocation." Fortune
This edition of CEO Daily was edited by David Meyer.
