Democracy Makes for Better Business

To our readers in the US, Happy Independence Day! As the country celebrates, we focus on the importance of democracy to business, and the many ways in which the two are intertwined.

This week, we dive into the links between these two dynamic systems, and what their many layered interdependencies mean for the success of both.

Spotlight: Democracy is Good for Business, and CEOs Shouldn’t be Afraid to Say It

In?this new essay , Aspen’s?Judy Samuelson ?writes on the importance of democracy to business, and the challenges facing executives this election season. When should leaders weigh in, and for what?

Business leaders “understand the importance of confidence in our elections and a functioning government to business stability and a healthy economy. This confidence is intertwined with the rule of law on which commercial contracts depend. While there may be good reasons not to discuss candidates, speaking up on trust in the institutions of democracy is not controversial, it is essential.”

News Roundup

1. Democracy Is Good for the Economy. Can Business Defend It? ?(Brookings: Vanessa Williamson)?“Business institutions and leaders need to be better informed about the economic value of democracy and better organized to protect the economic gains that democracy makes possible.” What are the stakes for business?
2. Nonpartisan Ways Brands Can Support Free and Fair Elections in the U.S. ?(Triple Pundit: Mary Mazzoni)?“Standing up for basic tenets of democracy — such as the right to vote without interference and have that vote be counted — is not partisan.” How can leaders drown out the noise and act?
3. How Corporate America Can Protect Democracy and Its Bottom Line ?(The Hill: Andrea Hailey, Tyler J. Hagenbuch)?What more can executives do to protect democracy, and themselves? (also see?Corporate America Is Mobilizing to Support Democracy in 2024 and Beyond. Here’s How )
4. Corporate Responsibility in a Multiracial Democracy ?(SSIR: Mahlet Getachew)?Is this “a historic opportunity for corporations to re-envision their purpose, their guardrails, and the value they deliver to all stakeholders”?
5. Want a Strong Economy? Business Needs to Defend the Integrity of Our Elections ?(U.S. News & World Report: Adrian P. Fontes)?Arizona’s Secretary of State gets real: “Can you imagine Google, Microsoft, Apple or any other game-changing tech giant emerging in a country led by a dictator?”

Also on Our Radar

What else caught our attention this week?

• Can America Unite in Dignity? This Agnostic Liberal and Religious Conservative Say Yes—and Show Us How
• I'm a Seven Year Old Swiftie. Here's Why Taylor Swift Is a Role Model for Girls Like Me
• Is It Time to Break Up With Fireworks?

One for the Road

Thanks for reading, forwarding and following. Enjoy a safe and happy holiday, and we’ll see you next week!

— The Business & Society Navigators

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Founded in 1998, the?Aspen Institute Business & Society Program ?works to align business decisions and investments with the long-term health of society—and the planet.