Corporate Conglomerates: The Rise and Demise (?) of ESG and DEI in Corporate America

Abstract

The terms ESG and DEI are both catch words for positive social change and, more recently, highly controversial terms; in each case they can impact the financial condition of corporations. While both ESG and DEI connote inarguably positive developments and aspirations, politically, each term has in recent years become somewhat “toxic.” The challenges presented by the ideals of both ESG and DEI, and how corporations have responded and continue to respond to them, have had and will continue to have broad ramifications for corporations and their finances.