---
title: "To Do: Create a Commission to Combat Corporate Short-Termism"
summary: |-
  Congress should create a commission to identify legislative and regulatory measures that would encourage companies to invest more for the long term.
date: "2016-06-13"
issues: ["Enterprise Policy", "Federal Strategy and Management"]
content_type: "Knowledge Base Articles"
canonical_url: "https://itif.org/publications/2016/06/13/to-do-create-a-commission-to-combat-corporate-short-termism/"
---

# To Do: Create a Commission to Combat Corporate Short-Termism

# Recommendation

Congress should create a commission to identify mechanisms to combat corporate short-termism and promote long-term investment in innovation.

# Details

Any national innovation and competitiveness policy needs to include measures to counter the pressure that corporations face to demonstrate short-term financial performance, because it leads to less long-term business investment in the foundations of innovation. Congress should establish a national commission to identify legislative and regulatory measures that would encourage companies to invest more for the long term. For example, such a commission might consider a proposal from the Institute of Corporate Directors to replace quarterly financial reports with less frequent updates, such as half-yearly results.

**Keep reading:**

- Robert D. Atkinson, “Restoring Investment in America’s Economy” (ITIF, June 2016), [https://itif.org/publications/2016/06/13/restoring-investment-americas-economy](https://itif.org/publications/2016/06/13/restoring-investment-americas-economy).

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*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://itif.org/publications/2016/06/13/to-do-create-a-commission-to-combat-corporate-short-termism/*