Publications Financial
Up one levelSeries for Responsible Investor (RI) Engagement: NGO Priorities for Mobile Network Operators
Food Markets in Dutch
The effect on prices of increased financial investments in commodity derivatives markets especially those for staple foods has been the subject of fierce debate since 2008. In order to make an informed dialogue possible between Dutch financial institutions and civil society organisations this report aims to provide a better understanding of the activities of large Dutch financial institutions in the (agricultural) commodity derivatives markets.
Feeding the Financial Hype
This report provides an overview of the on-going discussion on the impact of the financial investments in commodity derivatives markets. These investments have dramatically increased over the past decade, a period of sharp and sudden price swings in both futures and physical markets for commodities, including food commodities. Rising food prices are hurting the poorest people who spend up to 80% of their income on food.
The Missing Dimension
This report critically analyses a selection of major reforms of the financial sector as agreed or still being discussed at the level of the European Union (EU). The specific aim of this report is to identify where developing country interests as well as social and environmental sustainability are at stake, what concerns need to be raised and what concrete remedies could prevent (potential) negative consequences. The conclusions of this report point out that the interests of developing countries and the perspective of social and environmental sustainability are currently a missing dimension in the EUs financial reforms.
Dutch Bilateral Investment Treaties
This SOMO report highlights the until now unexplored role which Dutch investment protection policy plays in establishment decisions of MNC. The report argues that current Dutch investment policies are used for treaty shopping, allowing for investorstate dispute settlement based on broad-based BIT definitions that pose a danger to policy space and the safeguarding of public goods and interests. This is not only highly problematic from a sustainable development perspective for southern but increasingly for northern states.
