Overconfident chief executives tend to lead to less corporate social responsibility in a company, our research shows. The more confident the chief executive, the less their firm invests in activity that has a positive impact on society.

We looked at 2138 firms with 3478 different chief executives from US exchange-listed firms across all industry sectors, and calculated overconfidence by measuring executive compensation. We looked at the share options provided to chief executives: if the chief executive fails to exercise these options (selling them off) it means they are overconfident about their company.

Green MP Barry Coates was a winner at this year's Sustainable Business Awards. He tells Wallace Chapman that sustainability is dramatically changing the nature of the New Zealand business sector, but ...

"We believe the solution to consumerism, is to consume less, but consume better. We tell our customers to buy something that will last forever and to simplify their lives." During the deep recession, Patagonia's business grew 8 to 9% and founder Yvon Chouinard believes their approach is evidence of a new economy taking hold.

Last year saw the adoption of two major global agreements on sustainability. There can a long way between political agreement and practical change, but there’s a feeling that momentum is building. Here are the key sustainability trends to watch for.

Are you gay? The question isn’t taboo in the workplace anymore, for better or worse.

Facebook Inc. will stop routing advertising sales of its largest U.K. clients through Ireland, increasing its British tax bill by millions of pounds in a bid to improve transparency after facing criticism on tax avoidance.

Companies don't always think about the emissions created by their employees traveling to work, says Ann Fandozzi, a former auto executive who is CEO of employee carpooling app Ride. The recently-launched app has investments from a TPG Capital fund and has partnered with U2 frontman Bono. She spoke with Bloomberg Brief Sustainable Finance Editor Emily Chasan about how encouraging carpooling among employees can affect emissions, congestion, and even employee productivity. Comments have been edited and condensed.

A group of businesses wants to see New Zealand take the lead in the way we report and share our financial, social and environmental plans and performance. The NZX’s review of its corporate governance reporting requirements within the NZX Main Board Listing Rules is an important step along that path.

Companies should scrap quarterly earnings forecasts and instead provide more information helpful to long-term investors, a new report suggests.

The scandal at Volkswagen AG impacted the portfolios of many investors in European equities this week and raised questions about the carmaker's inclusion in sustainable stock market indexes. Allianz Global Investors, part of the asset management division of Europe's largest insurer, does not hold Volkswagen in its Global Sustainability fund, according to its portfolio manager Paul Schofield. He explains why to Bloomberg Brief Editor Siobhan Wagner and talks about the lessons sustainable investors can learn from this week's events. The interview has been edited for space and clarity.