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Responsible Business in a Crisis

How business and government are grappling with ‘doing the right thing’ in a pandemic. Why state aid and ESG pressure on dividends may not recede with the virus; calls to build back better; executive pay; who needs help most?; and lessons for future crises

ESG pressure on dividend payouts to continue after crisis
Emphasis on responsibility to staff and society may trump shareholders’ interests, analysts say
Will UK wave of state aid recede as coronavirus threat fades?
Support for employees and business was intended to be short term but may prove hard to end
What coronavirus tells company boards about the next crisis
The pandemic has placed a premium on ‘busy directors’ and a display of humanity
US big business gets help first but who needs it most?
To avoid the mistakes of 2008, focus on individuals and smaller enterprises
Business faces stern test on ESG amid calls to ‘build back better’
Response to pandemic shows up saints and sinners — and some fuzziness on the right course of action
Coronavirus puts top executives’ pay in the spotlight
Cuts for some CEOs but no change for others — and a split between sectors

More from this Special Report

Business ‘saints and sinners’ in the coronavirus crisis
FT correspondents highlight outstanding responses, good and bad