“Pro-Business” Political Influence, Shareholders & The Economy

This report examines the narrative “the system is rigged” and how it undermines trust in institutions, markets and businesses. It offers analysis of framing effects, public attitudes and communication strategies to help leaders rethink how they respond when stakeholders perceive business and government systems as unfair.

This toolkit helps B Corps and values-driven companies turn their mission into action through clear steps for engaging in policy advocacy—offering templates, case studies, and guidance on building coalitions, crafting messages, and showing up credibly in the public arena.

This report argues that to meet the demands of democracy, government must be reorganized to effectively carry out the goals set by the people’s representatives, and offers a four-part agenda to rebuild state capacity through hiring reform, procedural streamlining, digital modernization, and stronger feedback systems.

This survey reveals that while Americans expect businesses to take a stand on important social issues, they want them to steer clear of political involvement. Respondents call on companies to focus on finding shared values and solutions, rather than engaging in partisan debates. 

This guide provides a framework for business associations to align advocacy, lobbying, and member engagement with science-based climate targets. It outlines governance reforms, transparency expectations, and escalation strategies to ensure trade associations accelerate — rather than delay — decarbonization. The guide addresses how collective business influence shapes policy, market signals, and system-level climate outcomes. 

This article is a summary of a conversation hosted by Democratic Innovations at Yale's ISPS.  Led by ISPS Director Alan Gerber and ISPS faculty fellows and political science professors Hélène Landemore and Adam Meirowitz, Democratic Innovations serves as a laboratory to identify and test new ideas for improving the quality of democratic representation and governance. It recaps insihgts from the conversation hosted by Landemore and Theophile Penigaud de Mourgues, a postdoctoral associate with Democratic Innovations, and Jonathan Moskovic, advisor in democratic innovation for the president of the French-speaking Brussels Parliament.

Ceres’ 10-point plan calls for the insurance industry to lead in addressing climate-related financial risks. It outlines actions spanning disclosure, pricing reform, equitable access, and climate-resilient infrastructure, positioning insurers as advocates for systemic resilience and decarbonization. The roadmap aligns with CPR principles by linking fiduciary responsibility, transparency, and social equity to long-term system stability. 

This action plan outlines 10 clear steps for how insurers can lead on climate, setting it apart by emphasizing science-based targets, underwriting reform, and equitable resilience. It combines strategic, operational, and policy actions to help insurers align with net-zero goals while supporting vulnerable communities and driving systemic change.

The Civic Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of more than 1,300 businesses united by a commitment to a thriving democracy, which they believe depends upon active participation in safe, accessible, and trusted elections.

Recognizing that the right policies enable companies to meet climate targets, this Framework introduces a structure that companies can use to ensure their advocacy efforts align with their climate priorities. 

These guidelines offer key points for membership organisations to consider when designing and implementing climate policies, including Internal Policy Positions, Expectations and Requirements of Members, and External Policy Positions. They are aligned with the Race to Zero 5th P criteria, ISO Net Zero Guidelines and serve as a companion to the Business Associations Climate Action Guide for organisations.  

This article draws on the Erb Principles for Corporate Political Responsibility to guide companies in navgating social outrage—urging them to ground advocacy in core values, engage employees early to build legitimacy, and embed ethical deliberation into everyday operations rather than issuing reactive or superficial statements.

This brief analyzes legal, political, and reputational pressures facing corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid rising polarization and litigation risk. It outlines governance considerations, risk exposure, and communication strategies for companies navigating contested regulatory and political landscapes. 

This report engages more deeply with global stakeholder expectations for lobbying disclosure, detailing calls for transparency not only on spending but also on lobbying positions, trade association memberships, and alignment with sustainability goals. It argues that voluntary disclosures remain inconsistent and insufficient, and recommends standardized reporting frameworks to strengthen trust, accountability, and policy coherence. 

This report highlights the strong investor demand for transparency in political spending, with lobbying transparency proposals receiving 31% median support in 2024, highlighting pressure for corporate accountability post-Citizens United. 

This report reveals that since 2010, U.S. corporations and trade associations have contributed over $1 billion—more than 40% of total funds—to six influential "527" political organizations, significantly impacting state-level elections and policies, often in ways that conflict with their publicly stated values and pose reputational risks.