Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 11/2012

A good business reason to support mandatory transparency in extractive industries

Perrine Toledano, Julien Topal

August 2012

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Abstract

The Cardin-Lugar Transparency Amendment is a promising step toward ending the resource curse by improving accountability and access to information for both citizens and investors. The Amendment has run into heavy corporate opposition, and its implementation has been much delayed. However, there is a business case for mandatory transparency requirements.