The first step in the direction of revamping regulation of the ­rating agencies was taken during the G20 financial summit ­meeting in London in April 2009. An agreement was reached at that time to modify and standardize on a global scale the ­regulation of the rating agencies and investment funds. How­ever, sustained efforts have not yet been implemented, although they remain on the agenda. The implementation of a CR strategy in harmony with corporate strategy is a good opportunity to include long-term developments in the rating and the transparent presentation of the company. The economic and social forces in the company must be in balance with one another if the company is to develop further optimally. 

There are parallel initiatives by managers and economic leaders aiming to orient their activities more strictly along the ­principles of CR and to act ethically and responsibly. One example of such efforts is the MBA Oath, a kind of Hippocratic Oath for ­managers, which was created at the Harvard Business School in 2009 and is closely aligned with CR guidelines: “I will safeguard the interests of my shareholders, co-workers, customers, and the ­society in which we operate.”² 

A new way of thinking is appearing in the world of finance as well. “Ethical” and “sustainable” investment funds have been appearing with increasing regularity on the stock exchanges in the recent past. They emphasize the listing of companies which demonstrate responsible and transparent economic conduct and realize a long-term orientation of their corporate strategy in the direction of sustainability. This development can be accelerated even more if key authorities such as rating agencies or central banks start issuing “CR Seals” to qualified investment funds and stocks. This will make it simpler for private individuals to be sustainable in their conduct. The first indices for socially ­responsible investment (SRI) include such examples as the DJSI (Dow Jones Sustainability Index) or FSTE4Good. An important aspect for the content of these quality seals and indices is the measurability and comparability of CR criteria as they are described below in the CR scorecard.