The AIB panel session, “Who Benefits from FDI? Public Goods Contributions of MNEs”, takes place on 3 July and will discuss how multinational enterprise (MNE) activities and foreign direct investment (FDI) are shaping public goods and access to them.

Full AIB program

On 4 August, the session “Accountability and Transparency in Firm-state Interactions” at AOM 2026 will combine research and policy perspectives to clarify where opacity arises in firm-state interactions, which actors matter, and what governance solutions are feasible.

Abstract:
Firm state interactions are under renewed scrutiny as governments rely more on discretionary tools such as procurement, permitting, subsidies, and enforcement, while polarization and pressures on rule of law raise concerns about politicized allocation of public goods. Yet influence is often exercised through networks and low visibility intermediaries, making accountability difficult precisely where it matters most. This Panel Symposium is organized by VALPOP, an EU Horizon Europe project on how value creation and access to public goods are shaped by political and institutional conditions, including populism and rule of law dynamics. The panel combines three research perspectives and one policy/practice perspective to clarify where opacity arises, which actors matter, and what governance solutions are feasible. Panelists will provide short, discussion oriented provocations on social license and local opposition, low visibility channels of political influence, the role of unelected staff in enabling connected firms to benefit, and private ordering through disclosure standards and accountability regimes. The session culminates in a moderated discussion and audience Q&A. Attendees will leave with a practical map of influence channels, evidence on when and why connections shape outcomes, and actionable transparency and disclosure levers for firms, regulators, and civil society.

Full AOM program