ShareAction has cited several papers in support of its case that financial benefits, not costs, would arise from supporting their Living Wage resolution at Sainsbury's. Here’s why I don’t think they show that at all.

Schroders is right to vote against the shareholder resolution that would force Sainsbury’s to become an accredited Living Wage Employer. But this doesn’t mean that all ESG resolutions should be rejected.

Cut price CEOs can come with hidden costs. Investors should beware.

Claims made for the real-world benefits of ESG often play fast and loose with the facts. This risks decreasing rather than increasing trust in business. Advocates of responsible business need to follow the evidence.

Investors need to be clear why and how they are prioritising stakeholder issues and link this to client mandates and fiduciary duty

A recent paper reported as showing a causal link between divestment and carbon emissions proves nothing of the kind. It’s a case study on why to be sceptical of headlines describing complex research.

I’ve spent the year looking at what the best evidence has to say about key issues in responsible business. This is some of what I’ve learned.

Good corporate governance matters. But it’s not going to solve the world’s problems. The idea that it will risks taking us in the wrong direction and could make matters worse.

Overstating the business case for diversity understates the changes we need to make

There’s no clear consensus on how individual citizens should best use their investments to save the planet. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

The lesson from Danone is that purpose must lead to value

ISS voting recommendations are influential. Academic evidence suggests that’s probably not a good thing. Investors should revisit how they use them.

ISS voting recommendations are influential. Academic evidence suggests that’s probably not a good thing. Investors should revisit how they use them.

The UK Government’s mismanagement of the COVID crisis has left the country with no good options. What does an evidence-based approach look like from here?

Executive pay practices can signal governance troubles ahead. Investors should take note.

Despite welcome progress, the latest report from The Purposeful Company shows that pay reform is probably too timid to make much of a difference

The focus should be on how companies treat their employees not on the largely meaningless pay ratio statistic

Cutting carbon through individual behaviour is possible, but can't be the whole answer…

It is essential for the financial services industry to rediscover its purpose.

Until we have global carbon pricing we must take responsibility for our consumption choices