ReportCommittee for Economic Development (The Conference Board)

A Stable Democracy at 250: Trusted Elections as the Foundation Report

What It Is: A 2026 solutions brief explaining why free and fair elections matter for democracy and the economy, tracking recent trends in voter confidence and election administration, and offering recommendations and best practices across the business community, election administration, the conduct of elections, federal/state/local roles, and information integrity — paired with an accompanying Elections Toolkit. 

Why It Matters: As the brief puts it, free and fair elections are "a cornerstone of US democracy," underpinning both political stability and economic strength — a secure, credible, and accessible electoral system builds the business confidence companies need to operate with trust in governance and engage in shaping policy. That stake is measurable: confidence that votes will be counted accurately has slipped to 60% ahead of the 2026 midterms, down from a post-2024 high of 77%. 

How to Use It: The brief's recommendations distill to three actions for business leaders: proactively encourage employee and community voting in a nonpartisan way; support election administration by recruiting poll workers and offering flexible scheduling; and share trusted, official information to counter election-related mis- and disinformation. Use the accompanying Elections Toolkit to put these into practice ahead of the midterms. 

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ArticleHarvard Business Review

This article explores the need for companies to think about political responsibility, not just social responsibility.

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ArticleNetwork for Business Sustainability

This article summarizes the rationale for corporate political responsibility and explains the four Erb Principles, which are an actionable, non-partisan template that companies can use to decide whether and how to engage in political influence.  

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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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ReportCarnegie Endowment for International Peace

This paper provides a deep and detailed examination of how economies and businesses fare under leaders who purport to be both pro-business and populist. With the increase in the number of populist leaders throughout the world, this question has become increasingly pressing. 

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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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ArticleBloomberg

In this article the authors highlight how the Erb Principles for Corporate Political Responsibility identify common ground between the debate about shareholder value versus stakeholder considerations, and offer a roadmap for more responsible participation by businesses in our political system. 

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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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ArticleAmerican Economic Association

This study examines the global trend toward populism from 1900 to 2020 and its long-term economic impact. It finds that countries under populist leadership experience a 10% lower GDP per capita after 15 years compared to a plausible non-populist counterfactual, linking populist governance to economic instability, weakened institutions, and heightened risks for businesses and investors.

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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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ReportPrinciples for Responsible Investment

Provides investors with a structured approach to responsible investment, considering investment beliefs, stewardship, fiduciary duty, governance roles, and public disclosure.

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ReportAmerican Compass

A guide to how responsive politics, productive markets, and supportive communities are key to rebuilding American capitalism.

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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce
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ArticleCorporate Political Responsibility Site (published by Bohnen Public Affairs)

This piece proposes that trade associations are positioned to be powerful groundbreakers for business—helping shape rules that enable long-term value and healthy competition. But without clear standards, the authors argue, these same associations risk acting as bodyguards for narrow interests, distorting markets, block innovation and undermining trust in business and government. This piece proposes applying CPR principles—Legitimacy, Transparency, Accountability, and Responsibility—to guide more consistent, credible association advocacy aligned with shared business and societal goals, and the ultimate promise of free markets.

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