The affordability of pensions and how they are to be funded must be looked at in the light of the nation’s long-term economic and social objectives.  In this context, the terms ‘support’ and ‘dependence’ are used and measured in an unhelpful way that incorrectly assumes a one-way relationship.  The elderly are depicted as dependent ‘takers’, but they also support the economy and society through paying taxes and voluntary activities. Instead of looking at the ‘old age support ratio’ policymakers should focus on the ‘total economic support ratio’, which relates the number of people who are working to the numbers not working.  This was 0.48 in 2003 and is projected to decline to 0.45 by 2041.  At this point it will be almost the same as it was in 1961.

84% believe business should help address global issues. So why, then, are some companies still being slow to respond? And how can their finance teams help them to get to grips with this agenda? A global survey by CIMA and the Institute of Business Ethics looks at how companies are managing their ethical performance and explores the finance function’s potential contribution.

John Drummond discusses what beliefs he thinks would drive a force for good company, arguing that that the beliefs of executives are often more important than the stated purpose of the companies that they work for.John Drummond is the Chief Executive of Corporate Culture, a communications and social marketing company that has been a finalist for small company of the year in the Business in the Community Awards for Excellence 2008 for the past two years.  He began life as a journalist before working for IBM in sales and marketing for seven years. He was formerly Group Communications Director of United Utilities.

Philip Sadler CBE - the Senior Fellow of Tomorrow's Company - reviews the books that can provide detailed answers the central questions posed by www.forceforgood.com.  In this article he reviews Sumantra Goshal on Management: A force for good, a collection of works which helps to answer why companies need to become forces for good. Formerly philip was Chief Executive of Ashridge Business School for twenty years. He was also Senior Research Fellow for the recent inquiry - Tomorrow’s Global Company.

It has become imperative for business to demonstrate greater social participation and create value in the communities where they operate. But the growing availability of corporate capital for social development has not necessarily resulted in funds finding an effective home. Money often flows to the best-known development programmes or is directed through governments or aid agencies with their own development agendas. This leaves under-developed and under-resourced initiatives, working on the ground to effect change, without access to capital markets. And while corporate philanthropy plays a vital role in the development of communities, is not enough to lift people out of poverty and address South Africa’s historic imbalances. The SA Social Investment Exchange (SASIX) is an innovative platform providing a range of high-impact social investment opportunities from grants to financial investments in responsible initiatives that offer market-related financial returns. This, together...