OECD Responsible Business Outlook 2026

The global economy is undergoing multiple transitions where open markets and the rules-based international system are under strain; rule of law is declining globally and geopolitical tensions are prominent; and where economic security priorities are increasingly conditioning trade and investment policies. There is a re‑emergence of industrial policies – as a way to strengthen resilience, accelerate transitions, enhance competitiveness and address dependencies and overconcentration (OECD, 2026[1]).

In response to social and environmental pressures affecting societies, business, and stakeholders, there has been a global expansion of policy and market expectations for responsible business conduct (RBC). Internationally agreed principles on RBC are increasingly being used to provide a common reference point for addressing shared challenges in the global economy, while safeguarding people and the environment and providing a predictable and level playing field for companies.

The 2026 OECD Responsible Business Outlook provides the first global assessment of how RBC is being taken up in company practice and government policies. It analyses publicly disclosed information of the 10 000 largest listed companies globally – accounting for 96% of global market capitalisation – and reviews related government policies across 52 countries. As this report represents the first analysis of its kind it presents the current picture of company practices and government policy, rather than findings related to trends over time, which may be explored in future publications.

As a framework for analysis this report draws on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (MNE Guidelines) (OECD, 2023[2]) and the OECD Recommendation on the Role of Government in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct [OECD/LEGAL/0486] (the RBC Recommendation) (see Figure 1.2).

The MNE Guidelines (OECD, 2023[2]) are the leading international standard for how companies and investors should address their impacts on people, the planet and society. They apply to businesses and investors of all sectors, sizes and ownership structures, and cover all key sustainability issues – from climate change to technology, from anti-corruption to human rights and labour standards.

The MNE Guidelines are operationalised through risk-based due diligence. They include a six‑step framework for embedding RBC practices in core business operations, laid out in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct (OECD Due Diligence Guidance) (OECD, 2018[3]) (see Figure 1.1). Due diligence is the process by which companies identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate adverse impacts in their operations, supply chains and other business relationships.

The RBC Recommendation lays out a single comprehensive set of principles and policy recommendations for how governments can enable and promote RBC (see Figure 1.2).

[1] OECD (2026), Key Issues Paper 2026 Ministerial Council meeting, https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/events/2026/06/mcm/2026-mcm-key-issues-paper.pdf.

[2] OECD (2023), OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/81f92357-en.

[4] OECD (2022), Recommendation of the Council on the Role of Government in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct, OECD-LEGAL-0486, https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-0486 (accessed on 4 June 2026).

[3] OECD (2018), OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/15f5f4b3-en.