The role of large enterprises
in democracy and society
25-26 October 2007
Krakow, Poland
Scientific conference
Observatoire de la Finance in partnership with Jagiellonian
University and
University of Fribourg
Large, multinational enterprises play a critical role in the world economy as innovators, marketers, employers, standard setters, international investors, tax payers, generators of financial returns and organisers of work for millions of other, smaller entities across the world etc. Through all their intense interactions with the so called “non-market environment” (public bodies and social actors), the very large enterprises contribute greatly to shape this environment. Operating with a longer perspective, endowed with larger financial resources and intellectual skills than their smaller counterparts, the very large enterprises are highly sensitive to the outcomes of almost any legislative processes as they are concerned to how existing legal norms are put in practice. Responding to the law and more broadly to social concerns and expectations, influencing the law and - when necessary - looking for ways to accommodate the law, are the three main options open to business in contemporary society.
Provisional Programme
Thursday, October the 25th
9.30 Welcome coffee
10.00 Public opening session - East
European issues
· Michel Barde, Swiss Employers Association
· Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, Bank Polska Kasa Opieki
· Paul H. Dembinski, Observatoire de la Finance
12.00 Cocktail
13.30 Private interests in the political
philosophy of democracy
· Nicolas Hayoz, Universite de Fribourg
· Rafael Alvira, Universidad de Navarra
· Miroslaw Novak – to be confirmed
15.30 Coffee Break
16.00 How enterprises make their
voices heard?
· Mariuzs Witalis, Ernst & Young
· Jerzy Brniak, BP Poland
· K. Gadowska – to be confirmed
18.00 end of the first day
Friday, October the 26th
09.00 Beyond legal constraints -
are the corporations really responsive to social concerns?
· Jean-Pierre Mean, SGS
· Barbara Fryzel, Jagiellonian University
· Laszlo Fekete, Corvinus University of Budapest
· Precious Omuku, Shell Nigeria
11.00 coffee break
11.30 Final round-table
· Brigitte Monsou Tantawy, World Business Council for Sustainable
Development
· Michel Sauquet, IRG
· François Lépineux, INSEAD
Registration fees: 100 EUR
Accommodation: 200 EUR (2 nights and meals)
Information at: office@obsfin.ch
