Peace, business and prosperity

Every nation, every community and each individual is facing the social and political impact along with the impact of violence. Interpersonal violence results in medical, policing and judicial costs immediately after the violent incident occurs and it has longer-term implications for productivity and economic activity. 

Societal unrest and collective violence destabilise governments and social institutions as well as reducing business confidence. The combined effect of social disturbance and economic weakness paves the way for further conflict, creating a spiteful cycle.

Providing a matrix for measuring peace and understanding, the relationships between business, peace and prosperity are becoming ever important in societies today. One of the key publications referred in the article, ‘The Business and Peace Report’, is published by the Institute of Economics and Peace. 

The economic performance of a country and the prevailing peace are meticulously interlinked. Peace is a forecaster of performance of any economy, indicating the level of attracting forging direct investment (FDI) and many other macro level indicators. 

In business analysis, any investor will consider the benefit of peace as a key factor for his decisions. There are two key indicators studying peace aspects and its relationship with economy, namely Global Peace Index (GPI), measuring the absence of violence in an economy and Positive Peace Index (PPI), measuring the attitudes and structures in a society that will sustain peace. 

The countries which had a lower level of fear of violence in the last 60 years have managed to reach three times higher GDP compared with the countries which had a high level of fear of violence. Further, the comparative and positive growth signs were visible with a lower level of inflation, easier access to finance and higher level of 
FDI attractions. 

The PPI higher rankers experience 2 percent higher GDP growth, compared to the lower PPI rankers. These studies generally are not focused on the US and EU, where economies are much stronger. Further, the World Bank, through its studies, has confirmed that there is a tendency to get 8 percent higher returns on investment, compared with the countries having lower level peace. 

It is a well-established opinion that peace is essential for business performance and private sector-led economic growth. Violence resulting from armed conflicts or crimes impose an additional cost on any business taking place in an economy. A higher level of peace will ensure improved functionality of markets, increased competitiveness and 
better institutions.   

Better performance of an economy may positively influence in reducing violence and poor performance of an economy may bring in disturbance to peace. These two aspects therefore, which could be considered as strongly interlinked, which may take a destructive direction in a negative  environment and it will lead to an extremely constructive situation with positive impact having a correlation on each other. 

There are eight pillars interconnecting each other, which affect peace and business namely, well-functioning government, sound business environment, free flow of information, low levels of corruption, equitable distribution of resources, high levels of human acceptance of the rights of others and good relations 
with neighbours. 

Well-functioning government and low levels of corruption
The government policies with respect to private properties, having an independent judiciary and arbitration system will encourage not only FDIs but also local entrepreneurs to invest with a higher degree of confidence. When the corruption levels are high, it will make the business environment gloomy for investors. Further, corruption will make public procurement inefficient whilst badly affecting corporate investments.

Sound business environment
The ability of the businesses to adhere to government regulatory requirements, which include efficient customs processes,  access to finance and capital through formal banking systems and other aspects specified by ease of doing business index, will lead society to a peaceful atmosphere. 

Free flow of information
Free flow of information is vital for proper functioning of businesses and also the public to have confidence in performing day-to-day activities in life. From the point of view of business, greater availability of information helps market integration, commercial collaborations and innovations encouraging new entrants.

Studies have confirmed that the countries with higher free flow of information have a lower level of tariff rates, the reason being the government will have considerable pressure from the markets with similar comparative information being available. 

High levels of human capital
It is a top level requirement for any economy to have a healthy and educated working population and it is a deciding factor for business operations for their productivity and profitability. There is a tendency that skilled workers may migrate to other geographical markets if the domestic conditions are vulnerable. 

Acceptance of rights of others 
Acceptance of rights of others will ensure greater participation of all communities not only in economic and business activities but also in social and cultural activities within society. This situation will make a greater stock of human resources available for businesses to function effectively. 

Good relations with neighbours
The relations between states, different ethnic and cultural groups are considered under this aspect. It will ensure a higher level of trade and lower tariffs between economies, which will lead to economic growth. The trust and confidence built in each other will drive economies to greater heights. 

Inflation and peace
Instability of prices would negatively have an impact on savings, consumption and investment. Price volatility will create more risks, reduce profitability and productivity at large. The situation will push authorities to take measures to change monitory policies with higher interest rates, which in turn will make it difficult to invest and even for consumption. 
Low and predictable prices and inflation would bring confidence and a comfortable situation for investors. It is a known fact that low-performing economies are having a lower return on investments compared to high-performing economies. Long-term median inflation prevailing in high peace countries amounts to 3.5 percent and the same figure in low peace countries is recorded as 9.7 percent.

Foreign direct investment and peace
FDIs are not only bringing in the required finances for the economy but also the technology, managerial exposure and job creation. Further, the FDIs pave the way to be integrated with global trade flows as well. Due to these facts, attracting FDIs will play a key role in the growth trajectory of developing countries. If the situation is less peaceful, the investor attraction would also be low and weak.    
The most peaceful countries, including China, have received in the recent years, on average, 2 percent of GDP as the FDIs.  

Business finance and peace
Entrepreneurial skills and finances are considered to be most critical inputs for a business venture. Not only at the inception but even with business expansions, it plays a vital part. Peaceful countries are well equipped with financial markets, inclusive of capital markets and stock exchanges that could cater to such business necessities. It is vital for low peace countries to face the situation with proven and high standardised accounting and auditing structures, sound credit reporting systems, collateral and insolvency regimes with well-functioning payment and settlement mechanisms. 

It is extremely difficult determining the level of impact and the correlation of the above-mentioned eight pillars with each of the other pillars. For example, a well-functioning government may lead to free flow of information, where free flow of information may lead to better function of media institutions. This situation may lead to lower level of corruption, which in turn would support the authorities to function better and transparently.    

Having a sound business environment would have a positive impact on business transactions, where the members of society will be able to solve conflicts in a legal way and within a shortest possible duration as enumerated in doing business index compiled by the World Bank.  

A sound and positive business environment may also create the path to lower unemployment, which will have a positive impact on peace, which may lead to lower corruption and better governance. It may also work as a vicious cycle in a negative atmosphere, where more unemployment will pave the way for unrest in the society.  

Entrepreneurship is identified as the key factor of the economic growth that has immensely contributed to developed economies reaching their economic goals. The reports reveal that for the last six decades, GDP growth had been three times higher in highly peaceful countries and over the last decade, the GDP per capita had been seven times higher when compared with the countries with deteriorated peace levels. Further, the FDI inflows are more than two times higher in countries with higher levels of peace ensuring the continued growth of such economies. 

Highly peaceful countries are equipped with better functioning formal and non-formal institutions with well-functioning governments delivering high-quality services and infrastructure facilities with a higher level of security, incentivising the businesses to perform well.

Economic stagnation is a common look in low peace countries, where the annual growth of GDP per capita is remaining at very low levels. These countries are in turn more vulnerable with political instability and polarisation, rising unemployment and poverty, economic volatility and inflation. These disorders would form a cyclical effect and will continue to deteriorate the 
situation further. 
(The content of the article does not constitute any opinions of the institution/employer that the writer is connected to. Bandula Dissanayake is Secretary General/CEO at the National Chamber of Commerce)