Public Role for the Private Sector: Industry Self-Regulation in a Global Economy

Haufler, Virginia

Book

Public Role for the Private Sector: Industry Self-Regulation in a Global Economy

This book explores corporate self-regulation on an international level across three different policy issues—environment, labor, and information privacy.

By Ms. Virginia Haufler

Published on Aug 14, 2001

Source: Washington

Increasing economic competition and the powerful threat of transnational activism are pushing the private sector to respond with new political strategies. Over the past decade, a growing number of corporations have adopted policies of industry self-regulation such as corporate codes of conduct, social and environmental standards, and auditing and monitoring systems. A Public Role for the Private Sector is the first book to explore this self-regulation phenomenon on an international level across three different policy issues—environment, labor, and information privacy.

Virginia Haufler directed the Project on the Role of the Private Sector in International Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment. She is associate professor at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Advance Praise

"Anyone seeking to become better-informed about the changing role of business in the modern world should read this book."
—Debora L. Spar, Harvard Business School

"Breaks new ground in explaining the nature of industry self-regulation in today's globalizing economy. The rich case material makes this book essential reading for understanding the role of business in the 21st century."
—Georg Kell, UN Office of the Global Compact

"Offers a useful framework for assessing the drivers and mechanisms for industry self-regulation and poses a set of questions that policy makers, business leaders, activists, and academics cannot afford to ignore."
—Jane Nelson, International Business Leaders Forum

About the Author

Ms. Virginia Haufler

Former Visiting Scholar

North America Economy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Who Is Funding Russia’s War in the 2027 Budget?
For every ruble allocated to social policy, health, and education in 2027, double that amount is earmarked for the army, the police, and the security services.
Alexandra Prokopenko
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: Can the EU Stare Down China on Trade?
The European Commissioner for Trade is headed to China. But after President Xi’s bridge-building visit to Washington, can a more isolated EU overcome Beijing’s stranglehold on critical raw materials? Who will blink first?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
Commentary
Strategic Europe
How Le Pen Benefits from the Stalemate in Ukraine
The domestic impacts of how long it is taking to end the war in Ukraine have pushed the French electorate to the political extremes and compromised the country’s diplomatic capacity.
Rym Momtaz
Commentary
China Financial Markets
The Plaza Accord and Its Relevance for China
The Plaza Accord was not an externally imposed punishment of Japan but part of a broader restructuring that Japanese economists and policymakers themselves recognized was necessary. Its effects were undermined, however, when Tokyo responded to the resulting slowdown with policies that exacerbated investment, credit expansion, and the very imbalances the adjustment was intended to resolve.
Michael Pettis
Commentary
Strategic Europe
A Black Sea Truce Is About Global Food Security, Too
A summer of escalation in the Black Sea has hurt Ukraine economically and is exacerbating world food security. A truce is needed—as is a broader reframing of Europe’s Ukraine strategy.
Thomas de Waal

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Who Is Funding Russia’s War in the 2027 Budget?

For every ruble allocated to social policy, health, and education in 2027, double that amount is earmarked for the army, the police, and the security services.

Alexandra Prokopenko

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: Can the EU Stare Down China on Trade?

The European Commissioner for Trade is headed to China. But after President Xi’s bridge-building visit to Washington, can a more isolated EU overcome Beijing’s stranglehold on critical raw materials? Who will blink first?

Rym Momtaz, ed.

Commentary

Strategic Europe

How Le Pen Benefits from the Stalemate in Ukraine

The domestic impacts of how long it is taking to end the war in Ukraine have pushed the French electorate to the political extremes and compromised the country’s diplomatic capacity.

Rym Momtaz

Commentary

China Financial Markets

The Plaza Accord and Its Relevance for China

The Plaza Accord was not an externally imposed punishment of Japan but part of a broader restructuring that Japanese economists and policymakers themselves recognized was necessary. Its effects were undermined, however, when Tokyo responded to the resulting slowdown with policies that exacerbated investment, credit expansion, and the very imbalances the adjustment was intended to resolve.

Michael Pettis

Commentary

Strategic Europe

A Black Sea Truce Is About Global Food Security, Too

A summer of escalation in the Black Sea has hurt Ukraine economically and is exacerbating world food security. A truce is needed—as is a broader reframing of Europe’s Ukraine strategy.

Thomas de Waal