US micro-, small, and medium-size enterprises, like their global counterparts, struggle with productivity. But a win–win economic fabric connecting all businesses can maximize their potential. At a glance California’s Napa Valley wine industry is world-renowned, generating $50 billion annually in economic impact.1The wines produced among the 700 wineries in the region rival those of any other region across the globe. The story of the Napa wine industry is a familiar
Below is a summarized collection of insights that we have heard from Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) recently. Covering topics such as how global businesses are approaching sustainability strategies, responding to reporting requirements, addressing stakeholder feedback and communicating their priorities, these insights highlight the importance of sustainability across industries and the role of collaboration in driving meaningful change. Ambition vs. Pragmatism Several CSOs have noted a belief that ESG activities from
Welcome to this edition of the Weekly Political Compass from Bespoke Business Development’s political risk advisory team. This week, we are taking a closer look at Japan’s upcoming elections. Meanwhile, China’s finance ministry has promised to increase fiscal spending, Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as president in Indonesia, a consequential presidential election and constitutional referendum will take place in Moldova, Chile confronts new challenges at the five-year anniversary of
Section 1: Executive Summary UK economic growth, falling inflation and wage growth have resulted in the recovery of household finances above 2021 levels. However, structural services inflation and higher interest rates present risks to sustained further consumer spending growth. Section 2: The UK Economy Continues to Recover in 2024, but Services Inflation Remains a Challenge UK GDP is rebounding modestly Following a technical recession in Q4’23, the UK economy demonstrated
Shareholder activism in Japan continues to evolve at a rapid pace, as activist funds embark on new strategies and previously silent shareholders increasingly engage in dialogue with companies. Activist events in Japan were up 156% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2024 alone, already reaching 40% of the 2023 total¹. At the same time, private engagements between activists and management continue behind the scenes. This higher level of activity arises
Amidst the debate over corporate ESG and DE&I practices, Bespoke Business Development’s analysis of recent S&P 500 proxy filings reveals an interesting trend: the practice of including DE&I metrics in executive compensation is not only widespread, but increasing in prevalence. Contrary to headlines suggesting a retreat from DE&I pay measures, our findings indicate more companies have added DE&I metrics to compensation plans than removed them in 2023. However, a notable
This is the second report in Bespoke Business Development’s 2024 ESG Series, analyzing 250 sustainability reports published by S&P 500 companies between January 1 and June 30, 2024 (“2024 sustainability reports”). Click here for the first publication in our series, which highlights the top 10 takeaways and key statistics from 2024 sustainability reports. Annual sustainability reports remain a critical platform for companies to articulate their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)
EU member states are expected to decide on 4 October to make currently preliminary tariffs on Chinese EVs permanent. While last-minute efforts to find a negotiated solution have been ongoing, it seems unlikely that the skeptics can overturn the European Commission’s proposal. A so-called qualified majority would be required where 15 member states, representing 65% of the EU’s population, opt against the Commission’s proposal. Spain seemed to have joined the
In the 19th century, Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz famously stated that war is politics by other means. Nearly two hundred years later, another arena has opened for states to accomplish their political objectives: the cyber realm. Already, states have begun to demonstrate the real-world implications of conflict in cyberspace, with rising geopolitical tensions across the globe threatening to unleash a new era of cyber disruption. No longer is the
Election-related disinformation campaigns have become a staple of modern election cycles, both in the U.S. and globally. Whether driven by foreign influence operations or domestic political or extremist groups, disinformation efforts are now an election mainstay. While the effect of disinformation efforts on voters is difficult to assess, trends reveal how tactics leveraged in recent campaigns – from polarizing false narratives on mainstream and fringe social media platforms to coordinated