Business Roundtable

The Business Roundtable is an association of business executives who examine public issues that affect the economy and who develop positions that seek to reflect sound economic and social principles. Established in 1972, the Roundtable was founded in the belief that business executives should take an increased role in the continuing debates about public policy.

The Roundtable believes that the basic interests of business closely parallel the interests of the American people, who are directly involved in the economy as consumers, employees, investors, and suppliers. Thus, business leaders have responsibilities which relate to many factors that affect economic well-being—including jobs, products, services, and return on investment.

As the Roundtable sees it, one of its principal strengths

is the extent of participation by the chief executive officers of the member firms. Working in task forces on specific issues, they direct research, supervise preparation of position papers, recommend policy, and speak out on the issues. In this process, the Roundtable draws on the staffs of member companies for talent and expertise. In addition to the task force, there are a number of standing committees composed mostly of executives at the vice-presidential level.

There are task forces on these topics: accounting principles, antitrust, corporate constituencies, corporate responsibility, economic organization, energy users, environmental responsibility, environmental government regulation, inflation, international trade, national health, taxation, and welfare.

Activities of the task force and committees are reviewed by the Roundtable Policy Committee. Position papers approved by that committee are circulated to members and to the government and are made available for use in the public discussion of issues.

In an effort to ensure a broad base of information for the decision-making process, membership of the Roundtable is diversified. Member selection reflects the goal of having representation varied by business category and by geographic location. Thus, the members—a number of chief executive officers of companies in all fields—can present a cross section of thinking on national issues.

The Roundtable is selective in the issues it studies. A principal criterion is the impact the problem will have on the social and economic well-being of the nation. The Roundtable works only on issues where its members' business experience can make a significant contribution. It has a continuing liaison with other organizations dealing with national problems.