Business Roundtable

The Business Roundtable is an association of CHIEF EXECU­TIVE OFFICERs (CEOs) of major U.S.-based CORPORATIONs. The association’s stated goal is “to promote policies that will lead to sustainable, non-inflationary, long-term growth in the U.S. economy.” The Business Roundtable was formed in 1972 through the merger of three organiza­tions: the March Group (a group of CEOs which had been meeting informally to discuss public issues), the Con­struction Users Anti-Inflation Round Table (a group focus­ing restraining construction costs), and the Labor Law Study Committee (a group of labor relations executives of major companies).

The Business Roundtable uses the power and visibility of major CEOs to influence government policies and regu­lations. At the annual meeting each June in Washington, D.C., Roundtable members discuss position papers devel­oped by Task Forces on topics currently important to the group. In 2000, Roundtable Task Forces included Civil Justice Reform, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, the Digital Econ­omy, Education, Environment, Technology & the Econ­omy, Fiscal Policy, Health & Retirement, Human Resources, and International Trade and Investment.

Roundtable position papers are often used by members in testimony before Congressional committees, lobbying efforts at Congress and the White House, and in media releases for the general public. The Business Roundtable is an important network for business executives, providing a forum for discussion of interests across industries and among competitors in the marketplace.