Key Takeaways - Navigating an Election Year at the Peak of Polarization

In December 2021, we held a second roundtable to discuss how companies adjusted their political activity following the events of January 6th and a series of other shocks to the system during the year. [...] This roundtable and accompanying survey resulted in the Avoiding the Tragedy of the Commons: How to Improve the Political Environment for US Business report, published in January 2023. [...] There’s a noticeable trend in the S&P 500 towards political disclosure and accountability becoming the norm, with a significant percentage of companies scoring high on the CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability. [...] But understanding how far- reaching the repercussions of an action will be beyond the immediate aftermath is crucial for companies as they strive to identify, manage, and avoid the landmines in the political arena. [...] This relationship is multifaceted and extends beyond simply encouraging going out to vote; it involves educating employees about the democratic process, the implications of public policy decisions, and the impact of their own participation in the political process.