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Business leaders come together for the 2026 Economic Summit in Rochester
The event was hosted by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce.
Most Christian leaders accept climate science
But many aren’t talking about it with their congregations.
Columbus Chamber of Commerce launches Don DePerro Memorial Fund for small business leaders
The Columbus Chamber recently launched the Don DePerro Memorial Fund in honor of the late former president and CEO.
Baylor Global Business Expo highlights study abroad, global engagement
The Baylor Hankamer School of Business hosted a Global Business Expo on Tuesday providing students with opportunities to discover international programs at Baylor, meet faculty leaders and enjoy free snacks and prizes.
Dunkirk City Council addresses indictment of former treasurer
city leaders say they're taking the matter seriously.
Horry County leaders give OK to controversial mental health site; targeted 2027 opening
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) — A former assisted living facility in Murrells Inlet is getting new life as a mental health hospital after protests from nearby residents who said it would drag down the …
Relay Resources Adds Vice Presidents of Employee Experience, Business Transformation
PORTLAND, Ore., February 04, 2026--Relay Resources, the Pacific Northwest’s leading social enterprise nonprofit committed to advancing disability inclusion in the workplace, has added two senior leaders to its executive team: Oscar Rico-Cazares was named Vice President, Employee Experience and Talent Management, while Paulien van Uden was promoted to Vice President of Business Transformation.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul to question DHS leaders next week
Next week, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., will question federal officials overseeing the aggressive tactics being used by immigration enforcement agents.
Yahoo Sports: Jalen Brunson was built for New York
In the latest Boardroom Cover Story, Jalen Brunson reflects on leadership, fatherhood, MSG, and his rise as the Knicks’ franchise cornerstone.
UF Astraeus faculty help shape national science strategy for human exploration of Mars
UF Astraeus Space Institute faculty filled key leadership roles in a a major National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report.
‘Game is over’: Iran’s ex-leaders, hardliners clash after protest killings
A former reformist leader wants the Islamic Republic gone while lawmakers wish to see an ex-president executed.
Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross fund $10M campaign to relocate CEOs to Florida's business-friendly environment
Florida business leaders launched the "Ambition Accelerated" campaign, backed by Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross, to attract even more CEOs and investors to South Florida.
ECU Health Chief Nursing Executive Trish Baise named 2025 CNO to know by Becker’s Hospital Review
Recognition highlights Baise’s leadership in advancing rural health care
Key business publications spotlight new Sportservice leaders
Two recently appointed leaders of Delaware North’s Sportservice business – Tom Barney and Adrian Dishington – were profiled this month in Sports Business Journal (SBJ) and Buffalo Business First, respectively. Together, their stories highlight both the company’s deep bench of homegrown talent and its ability to attract global hospitality expertise to Buffalo. Tom Barney featured in Sports Business Journal In an interview […]
Former Farming Leaders Warn U.S. Agriculture Could Face ‘Widespread Collapse’
A group of past government officials and the former heads of farming associations issued a dire warning to members of Congress.
Pro-ag or pro-development? Conservationist Travis Thompson asks Florida leaders to support Florida Farm Bill
'Remember this, the final crop will be houses if we don’t protect agriculture.'
Longtime CEO Bob Iger to retire from Disney
Disney CEO Bob Iger announces retirement as Josh D'Amaro set to take over leadership role in March 2026, with Dana Walden named company president.
What should business leaders say about Alex Pretti’s death?
History will judge business leaders not just for their silence, but for their platitudes.
The C-Suite Rewrites the Org Chart: How Health Systems Are Elevating Technology Leadership
Artificial intelligence, automation and advanced analytics are moving beyond pilot projects into core clinical and operational workflows, demanding clearer ownership and tighter alignment with organizational strategy.
Health leaders launch ‘Minnesota Revalidate’ to combat Medicaid fraud
State health leaders announced Monday they’re launching “Minnesota Revalidate" in an effort to combat ongoing Medicaid fraud involving thousands of providers that’s impacting patient care.
Business Leadership Week 2026 at Texas State University
Business Leadership Week will explore leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and ethics through workshops, panel discussions, engaging sessions and networking opportunities.
State Health Secretary: Measles outbreak serves as reminder about how contagious virus is
Washington state is seeing its first measles outbreak in years.And state health leaders say it's an important reminder about just how contagious the virus can
New Orleans leaders on hand for opening of new Rouses Market in New Orleans East
Mayor Helena Moreno and other city leaders joined Rouses Markets executives on Monday to mark the formal opening of the regional grocery chain's new New Orleans East location, which includes
WATCH LIVE: RFK Jr announces initiative to confront mental health, addiction
A bipartisan group of policy leaders will announce the launch of Action for Progress, abipartisan initiative to confront America’s growing mental health and addiction crisis.
The latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files: Who is mentioned and what they are saying in response
Here is a look at some of the notable names in the latest release of files from the U.S. Justice Department pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein. The list includes politicians, entertainment figures, business leaders and Royal Family members, with some releasing statements this past weekend about their interactions with the late accused child sex trafficker.
What happened to shame in politics?
Shame is a powerful feeling that can keep behavior in check. So what happens when political leaders feel no shame at all?
Minorities in Sports Business Network hosts A Toast to Black Sports luncheon at Super Bowl LX
SAN FRANCISCO – Former NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes, NFLPA executive Carl Francis, and longtime corporate strategist Debra Langford will be honored for their community engagement at the fourth annual A Toast to Black Sports luncheon, a private gathering of Black sports leaders during the week before Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Sponsored by the […]
National Survey Finds Heart Conditions Top Cost Driver for Employers and Health Plans, But Action to Contain Costs Lags
MENLO PARK, Calif., February 02, 2026--A new survey of healthcare benefit leaders shows heart conditions are a major concern, but prevention and cost containment efforts are falling behind.
Vanderbilt Health acquires Tennova’s Clarksville hospital and related physician clinics from Community Health Systems
Leaders with Vanderbilt Health announced today completion of the acquisition of Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville Hospital and freestanding emergency room Tennova ER-Sango, along with the hospital’s related businesses, including physician clinics and outpatient services, from Community Health Systems Inc. (CHS). Vanderbilt Health has held a 20% minority interest in these operations since 2021. Under Vanderbilt Health’s ownership, the 270-bed hospital will be named Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital (VCH) while the freestanding Sango ER will be named Vanderbilt Emergency Sango. Also joining the Vanderbilt Health system through the acquisition are physician practice locations in Clarksville, Dover, Pleasant View and Tiny Town offering, depending on location, orthopaedics, primary care, wound care, digestive health, urology and surgical services. Acquisition of the hospital and its related physician practices expands Vanderbilt Health’s ability to serve patients across the region, supporting its ability to provide high-quality care in more convenient, community settings that are also more cost-effective. “We are thrilled to welcome Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital into our health system. Providing exceptional care close to home is invaluable, and we are eager to serve the citizens of Clarksville and Montgomery County by expanding the hospital’s programs and services,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Vanderbilt Health and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. This acquisition marks Vanderbilt Health’s fourth regional hospital expansion, further strengthening its presence across Middle Tennessee beyond its already extensive inpatient and ambulatory services in Nashville. VCH joins Vanderbilt Health’s network of regional medical centers that now include Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital in Lebanon, Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital in Coffee County, and Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital in Shelbyville. With a strong record of growth and investment in people, programs and services for its regional hospitals, residents of Clarksville, Montgomery County and the surrounding region can expect that Vanderbilt Health will bring a host of adult and pediatric services to the area. Initial plans for VCH over the upcoming year include increased staffing for the hospital’s emergency services, including the addition of pediatric emergency medicine specialists with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, along with increased surgical specialty offerings. Longer term, physicians and staff will be recruited to bring a broader array of adult and pediatric specialty services to the community. “I am delighted to welcome the physicians, nurses and staff of Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital into the Vanderbilt Health family and look forward to working closely with the hospital’s medical staff and members of the local health care community to ensure we excel at meeting their needs as caregivers as we pursue the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of the patients we serve,” said Jane Freedman, MD, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer for Vanderbilt Health. Currently, VCH employs approximately 1,100 staff and more than 30 physicians. Through this acquisition Vanderbilt Health has committed to hire substantially all current employees who are in good standing. Services already established by Vanderbilt Health at VCH include an OB-GYN hospitalist program, an array of oncology services provided by a multidisciplinary team with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and neonatal care in the hospital’s Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provided by specialists with Monroe Carell. VCH has been designated as an Accredited Chest Pain Center and a Wound Care Center of Distinction and has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission. More information about Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital is available at: vanderbilthealth.com/hospital/vanderbilt-clarksville-hospital
Newly-Released MMO Ashes of Creation Left in Tatters as Senior Team Quits and Management Issues Layoff Warning — and Now Steam Is Reportedly Investigating
The future of the newly released Ashes of Creation is in doubt after its leadership team quit following a dispute with the management board — and now Steam is reportedly investigating.
Most Baltimore County teachers are ready to teach science of reading. What about yours?
The phonics-forward method backed by brain science is what education leaders hope will bring Maryland back to its heyday.
The 2026 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards
From rebuilding communities in the post–Jim Crow era to leading Fortune 500 companies and public institutions today, Black business leaders have played a central role in shaping Virginia’s modern economy. Today, they are driving growth, innovation and opportunity across the commonwealth — leading major corporations, expanding small businesses, strengthening public institutions and driving progress across […]
New year, new perspectives: Greater Manchester Chamber welcomes 2026 board leadership
The Greater Manchester Chamber announces its 2026 Board of Directors, welcoming new leadership and fresh perspectives while maintaining strong continuity at the helm. Together, the officers and board members will
Meet the Class of 2025 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
Seven standout athletes and leaders are being honored for shaping Arizona’s sports legacy across generations. Meet the Class of 2025 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame
Clock ticks on Santa Paula Hospital as leaders weigh what comes next
Time is running out on Santa Paula Hospital set to close at its current site in 2030, sparking anxiety about care needs of the Santa Clara Valley.
China's military has a serious leadership problem
The anti-corruption campaign has left open positions and a lack of senior officials with the experience to fill them.
Business leaders gear up for Washington Street project
A website is planned to focus on positive, customer-friendly messaging during the project, letting consumers know about detours, promotions and anything else that will help get to businesses.
Q&A: Commissioner Justin Rodriguez explains why county government is becoming a political battleground
Texas' largest counties have frequently run up against the state's GOP in its quest to innovate, putting a bigger spotlight on their leaders.
World Laureates Summit: Can science give a blueprint for our future?
In a landmark convergence of intellect and governance, the World Laureates Summit (WLS) opens on Sunday in Dubai, gathering over 150 of the world's most eminent scientists, policymakers, and institutional leaders.Convened alongside the 2026 World Governments
Columbia city, business leaders send relief supplies to help North Mississippi
About one dozen full pallets of water was loaded on a National Guard transport truck Saturday, for delivery to families displaced by the winter storm.
Minority-owned businesses showcased in seventh annual expo at Columbia College
The seventh annual Business Leaders Alliance Cultivating Knowledge expo showcased a variety of local minority-owned small businesses.
House minority leader says Republicans can’t rely on Democrats to pass funding bill, raising fears of longer shutdown
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told Speaker Mike Johnson on Saturday that Democrats won’t help Republicans pass a funding bill to reopen the government if they attempt to fast-track the measure Monday, according to two sources familiar with a call between the leaders.
Why The Challenger Disaster Still Matters To Business Leaders Today
Forty years on, the Challenger disaster remains a case study in what happens when organizations fail to allow for dissent and systematically challenge their assumptions.
Hundreds of political prisoners in Venezuela could be released under new amnesty bill
Venezuela's acting president announces amnesty bill that could free hundreds of political prisoners, including opposition leaders and journalists.
ICE Minneapolis crackdown: Rift between Target employees, leadership
Across Minneapolis, Target employees are marching and volunteering amid the immigration crackdown, while pressing company leadership to do more
Atlanta's 500 Most Powerful Leaders in 2026: Arts, Sports, & Entertainment
These are Atlanta's 500 most powerful leaders. We spent months consulting experts and sorting through nominations to get a list of the city's most influential people—from artists to chefs to philanthropists to sports coaches and corporate CEOs. In this section, we focus on arts, film, music, entertainment, and sports.
Planned Parenthood, reproductive healthcare could receive $90 million in new state funding
California will bolster funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers of reproductive health with a one-time infusion of $90 million, leaders of the state Legislature announced Friday.
Venezuela announces amnesty bill that could lead to mass release of political prisoners
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday announced an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition leaders, jou…
Venezuela announces bill that could lead to mass release of prisoners detained for political reasons
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday announced a bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, including opposition leaders, journalists and human rights activists detained for political reasons.
Dueling S.F. ballot measures will pit unions against business leaders
The stage has been set for an expensive battle between labor unions and San Francisco’s business community over how the city should tax big businesses. Here’s what to know about the ballot...
Some small businesses say they can't close for anti-ICE protests
In protest of ICE, the National Shutdown on Jan. 30 encourages supporters to not work, attend school or shop.
Deadline Approaching for MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy - MHA | Michigan Health & Hospital Association
The enrollment deadline for the MHA Healthcare Leadership Academy (HCLA) is Feb. 6. The cohort meets Feb. 25-27 and May 7-8 at the MHA headquarters in Okemos.
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine Announces Leadership Transition and Next Phase of Growth
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth (TBBW) today announced a leadership transition and the start of a new chapter for the publication, marking a significant milestone in its continued evolution as a leading voice for the region's business community.
CIO says academia has some lessons to teach health IT pros
"A significant portion of any leadership role is explaining the 'why' and 'how' of a change to diverse audiences," says Bruce Barnes of Brooke Army Medical Center, ahead of his HIMSS26 presentation on the value of higher education.
California Crypto Billionaires Plan to Spend Tens of Millions on Moderate Candidates
Chris Larsen and Tim Draper, two outspoken Silicon Valley leaders, are planning to spend tens of millions of dollars to elect moderate state lawmakers this year.
Possible measles exposure at UNC Nash County Health Department after child tests positive
Nash County health leaders are sending out a warning about a potential measles exposure after a child who visited the UNC Health Nash Emergency Department on Tuesday tested positive for the disease. Anyone who was at the health department between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday may have been exposed.
Nash County leaders warn of potential measles exposure at UNC Health Nash
The Nash County Health Department is alerting the public after an unvaccinated child who recently traveled internationally tested positive for measles following a visit to the UNC Health Nash Emergency Department.
Inside Iowa Politics: Calls for leadership changes after ICE fatal shooting of protester
Iowa members of Congress are not calling for President Donald Trump to remove some of his top leaders involved in immigration enforcement.
Scaling innovations in public health systems: guidance and toolkit
This guidance is a strategic instrument to position governments as drivers of health systems transformation. By embracing the roles, processes and strategies outlined herein, public sector leaders can move beyond short-term initiatives and isolated successes toward lasting, large-scale improvements in health outcomes.
Tittle Law Firm Guides Dallas Businesses Through Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorneys Support
When debt problems escalate, local leaders can contact Tittle Law Firm, PLLC for Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys support and clear next-step direction. Tittle Law Firm Guides Dallas Businesses Through Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorneys Support When debt problems escalate, local leaders can contact Tittle Law Firm, PLLC for Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys support and clear next-step direction. Dallas, TX , Jan. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dallas businesses dealing with mounting debt and tightening cas
Judge to weigh political motives in ICE surge
A federal judge has asked the Trump administration to respond to allegations from the state’s leaders that Operation Metro Surge is motivated by animosity toward Minnesota.
A Business Owner Is Getting Divorced, Asks Dave Ramsey If He'll Lose The Business. 'She's Actually 98% Owner Of The Business And I'm 2% Owner'
A Texas business owner is facing a painful split, not just from his wife, but potentially from the company he helped build. He says he’s done almost all the work since 2021, but legally owns just 2% of the business. His wife holds the other 98%, a structure their accountant recommended for tax reasons. Divorce And Ownership Don't Match Up Manny, who shared his story on the “EntreLeadership” podcast recently with personal finance expert Dave Ramsey, said, “She’s actually 98% owner of the business
City & State New York Recognizes Two Leaders From NYC Health + Hospitals And MetroPlusHealth On 2026 "Trailblazers in Healthcare" List - NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals announced that NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Director of Oral and maxillofacial surgery Dr. Maryam Akbari and MetroPlusHealth
Healey tells business leaders she's focused on driving down costs in Mass.
Gov. Healey spoke to business leaders Thursday to share her focus on affordability.
City & State New York Recognizes Two Leaders From NYC Health + Hospitals And MetroPlusHealth On 2026 "Trainblazers in Healthcare" List - NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals announced that NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Director of Oral and maxillofacial surgery Dr. Maryam Akbari and MetroPlusHealth
The Next Era of Sports and Entertainment Technology: Info-Tech Research Group Partners With SEAT to Advance Innovation and Digital Excellence Across Industry
Info-Tech Research Group, a global leader in IT research and advisory, has announced a new partnership with SEAT, the Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology, to empower technology, marketing, and operations executives across the global sports and entertainment industry. The collaboration will bring Info-Tech's expertise to SEAT's influential community of North American entertainment venues, sports teams, and league leaders who are driving innovation in fan engagement, digital experience,
Escape from Washington? Senators look to start new chapters as governors
U.S. senators are increasingly looking to leave Washington for leadership roles in their home states
Escape from Washington? Senators look to start new chapters as governors
U.S. senators are increasingly looking to leave Washington for leadership roles in their home states.
Joan Esmie MS ’26 Named PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow
Reflecting Ithaca College’s Commitment to Community-Minded Leadership
Rice Business launches new graduate healthcare certificate program to advance leadership in dynamic industry
Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business today announced the launch of its Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management program, a 10-month, credit-bearing professional credential designed for current and aspiring leaders seeking deep expertise in the business of healthcare. Situated at the crossroads of Houston’s renowned Texas Medical Center and global healthcare innovation, the program blends rigorous business fundamentals with healthcare-specific strategy, operations and management.
CU Athletics Announces Partnership with Sports Business Ventures to Launch 1:1 Sports Executive Mentorship Program - University of Colorado Athletics
The Scripps Student-Athlete Leadership and Career Development program is excited to announce a new partnership with Sports Business Ventures (SBV) to launch ...
CU Athletics Announces Partnership with Sports Business Ventures to Launch 1:1 Sports Executive Mentorship Program - University of Colorado Athletics
The Scripps Student-Athlete Leadership and Career Development program is excited to announce a new partnership with Sports Business Ventures (SBV) to launch ...
Minnesota women business leaders respond to big company CEOs
In today's North Star Insider: The small business response to big company CEOs; First Ave.'s plea to music industry, and Travis Kelce invests in Sleep Number.
Louisiana restructured child care tax credits for businesses to help families, workers
State leaders restructured and renamed a tax credit program for childcare businesses and businesses that invest in child care, which early childhood education advocates say will increase the quality of child care and ease parents back into the workforce.
Talks intensify to avert shutdown as White House and Senate leaders eye last-ditch deal
The White House and Senate leaders are moving closer to a deal to avert a government shutdown but are seeking to resolve final sticking points in eleventh-hour negotiations ahead of Friday’s deadline, according to several sources familiar with the talks.
8 Santa Monica Businesses Win Green Certification Awards
8 Santa Monica businesses received Green Business Certification on January 16th at the YMCA, recognizing their sustainable practices and environmental leadership.
Trump Rallies Business Leaders to Fund Accounts for Babies
The President joined with celebrities, CEOs, and officials to stoke support for the new Trump Accounts.
As major CEOs respond to ICE Minneapolis crackdown, CNBC survey finds many leaders saying it’s 'not relevant to their business'
Apple, OpenAI CEOs respond to ICE crackdown in Minneapolis, but a CNBC survey finds some business leaders sensing no business need, or fearing Trump backlash.
Pa. county commissioners call for $40M increase to support mental health services
HARRISBURG — County leaders from across Pennsylvania on Wednesday called on legislators and Gov. Josh Shapiro to provide an additional $40 million in funding for county mental health services in
‘Trust, love, commitment’: Esteemed business leaders and former Notre Dame football student-athletes reflect on how to be champions of hope at Walk the Walk Week event
On Monday (Jan. 26), two distinguished business leaders and former Notre Dame football student-athletes — Tracy Graham ’95 and Byron Spruell...
Opinion | A defense of business leaders’ pragmatic letter about the events in Minnesota
"Maybe public vitriol isn’t the measure by which to judge the words of business leaders in today’s world and with this president," Tom Horner writes.
Accelerating Science: A Blueprint for a Renewed National Quantum Initiative
Sustained U.S. leadership in quantum information science is critical to ensuring that breakthroughs in computing, sensing, networking and materials translate into secure technologies and industries, a skilled domestic workforce and long-term strategic advantage. To secure this future, Congress must act and reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative (NQI).
Norma Izzo Continues Earning Business Leader Recognition from AZ Big Media
For the third consecutive year, Spencer Fane attorney Norma Izzo has been recognized in AZ Big Media’s annual AZ Business Leaders issue for her
Leadership turmoil returns to Hispanic Silicon Valley business group
For the second time in seven years, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley has found itself embroiled in a leadership dispute that has led to the sudden ouster and replacement of multiple board members.
New Doc by Former Colleagues Explores Asian Americans' Growing Political Leadership
Two Asian American professors with ties to York College have collaborated on a timely and engaging new documentary examining the growing political influence of Asian Americans.
The Two Big Decisions Facing Democrats Ahead of a Shutdown
Plus, senators work on a last-minute budget deal on immigration enforcement, and Tom Homan presented his list of demands to Minnesota leaders.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
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