Maya Forstater

Thinking of Lant's fascinating comparison between the best aid intervention and migration, I wonder if migration deserves an even better place?

Whereas there is far less evidence that corporate accountability for human rights abuses abroad is in our national self interest.

That's why I think it's worth distinguishing between issues/outcomes and tactics. win-win is not an inherent phenomena to be found but a strategy to take. Owen/graph I think says these issues *can* be tackled thru win-win approach...

So say the issue is natural resource governance (incl. human rights of local communities). Then Q is how can UK influence thru aid, trade, investment, diplomacy, standards, extra territorial regln of biz, financial sector etc...? Approach to corp. accountability is one lever..

... Then Q is is trying for win-win a good idea for this issue and what works in practice? If approach to corp accountability is not win win on some level (eg: help to manage risk, level playing field w other cos) then impact might be just to drive UK biz out of difficult places?

Well, what is win-win depends on the context If you have strong public demand for responsible business practices & sustainability, like in the Netherlands, then it makes sense for business to undertake human rights due diligence, so as to avoid risks of being implicated in abuse

If you have a lot of firms already doing this, then legislation helps create a level playing field, so that responsible businesses aren't undercut. Legislation can also benefit consumers - reassuring them that their engagement ring wasn't sourced via child/ forced labour.

But whether that's a 'win' depends on people's priorities.