Columns – Page 3
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Opinion Pieces‘Whatever it takes’ may not be enough
Italy has another new government; the 67th since 1946. An argument over the management of EU COVID-19 recovery funds led to the appointment of Mario Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank (ECB), as prime minister. He is after all credited with saving the euro-zone by pledging to do “whatever it takes” during the 2012 debt crisis.
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Opinion Pieces
‘Urgency’ necessary for adequate provision
The IORP II Directive seeks to “improve the way occupational pension funds are governed”, to “enhance information transparency” to pension savers and to “clarify the procedures for carrying out cross-border transfers and activities”, according to EIOPA.
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Features
Guest Viewpoint: Kerrie Waring, International Corporate Governance Network
This year, ICGN’s flagship Global Governance Principles will be revised as part of a three-year review. This year’s revision is set within a world facing systemic challenges: a global pandemic and climate change
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Opinion Pieces
Viewpoint: PE must work towards measuring impact of sustainable investing
While EU regulation is a positive development, which will bring greater standardisation to ESG reporting, investors, organisations and regulators must aim to go further
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Opinion Pieces
Infra must adapt to meet pension goals
Looked at collectively, or even individually, the cashflow needs of Europe’s defined benefit (DB) and hybrid pension schemes are huge and potentially challenging given the scale of income generating assets needed to help service them.
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Opinion Pieces
The world is approaching an inflection point
Domestic challenges and US political developments have proved such a preoccupation recently that it has been all too easy to miss a key global shift. China’s rise to global prominence has accelerated markedly as a result of the past year’s events.
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Opinion Pieces
COVID-19 barely tested the financial system
The financial system seems to have coped well with COVID-19. This is despite the repeated recent warnings about a build-up of systemic risk. In turn this has been linked to the abundance of cheap debt and the growth of the asset management industry.
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Opinion Pieces
‘Close contact’ needed amid pandemic
Multiple lockdown restrictions have brought about a simpler way of working for some – remotely from home for most – but for institutional investors it also meant coming up with strategic models that could maintain the quality of asset managers’ due diligence – existing or potential.
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Features
Long-term matters: Stop investing in autocracy
Europeans observing the US ‘near miss’ constitutional crisis have a choice – be spectators or show responsibility
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Features
Guest viewpoint: David Neal, IFM Investors
While COVID-19 continues to hit the global economy, governments are looking to infrastructure as a way to create future employment and sustain the eventual economic recovery
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Interviews
Viewpoint: Making the case for SDG-aligned investing
Mirtha Kastrapeli, founder and CEO of Beyond Alpha, makes a case for shifting to SDG-based systems investing
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Opinion Pieces
Viewpoint: Long-term lenders ideally placed to drive ESG conversations
With the world facing considerable and pressing environmental and social problems, the investment world has a critical role to play in addressing issues such as climate change, inequality and discrimination
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Opinion Pieces
Viewpoint: Blended finance and impact
Delivering the 2030 Agenda in the COVID-19 era and beyond
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Opinion Pieces
Social purpose: the new dimension
Investors’ attention turned to human capital issues in 2020 as COVID-19 took hold – including the treatment of staff and other stakeholders, as well as dividend policy and executive pay in cases where companies have received taxpayer support.upport.
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Opinion Pieces
Japan is not that different
One of the abiding myths about Japan is that it is different from everywhere else. Not just distinctive in the sense that all countries have peculiarities but uniquely different.
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Opinion Pieces
The real meaning of engagement
Empirical evidence suggests that individuals are unengaged with DC pensions. This is demonstrated by the vast majority of DC members remaining in default funds and reluctant to increase contributions.
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Opinion Pieces
Uncertain conditions call for a steady course
The impact of COVID-19 has made long-term strategies that embrace resilience a high priority for pension funds to ensure there is a smoother ride during turbulent times.
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Features
Long term matters: What kind of decarbonisation matters most?
This article was written on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. In 2015, the world committed to keep warming below 2°C, meaning decisive annual reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Instead we have had a 7% increase in GHG since 2015 and are on track for about 3°C warming with a high risk of irreversible tipping points.
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Features
Guest viewpoint: Jesper Kirstein
In recent months, the asset management industry has been dominated by adjustments inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article will try to look beyond this and address the question of where the asset management industry is moving in the medium to long term.
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Opinion Pieces
Viewpoint: How trustees can create practical carbon journey plans
Dealing with climate change is a responsibility we all share – but trustees may be wondering how they get from their starting point to the required end-goal. This ‘carbon journey’ needs a plan.
