CHICAGO – The ongoing global economic crisis is not only causing incumbent governments to lose elections; it is also shaking corporate boards. When stock prices and profits seemed to defy gravity, shareholders’ meetings resembled American political conventions: a show to promote a company’s image, rather than a forum to debate contentious issues.
芝加哥—发酵中的全球经济危机不但让在任政府输掉了大选，也让公司董事会如坐针毡。当股价和利润似乎要摆脱地球引力的时候，股东大会便呈现出美国政治传统的特征，成为一场公司形象秀，而不是讨论争议问题的论坛。今年的公司年会则有所不同。由于对低回报不满，投资者也比以前难对付多了。