Based on an analysis of over 600 large and mid-cap U.S. publicly listed companies from 2001 to 2015, this paper provides systematic evidence that a long-term approach can lead to superior performance for revenue and earnings, investment, market capitalization, and job creation.
Corporate short-termism has been the subject of ongoing debate among leaders in business, government, and academia for decades, but hard evidence on the impact of short-termism on company performance and economic growth has remained scarce.
To fill this gap, MGI created a systematic measurement of long- and short-termism at the company level. Its findings show that companies classified as “long term” outperform their shorter-term peers on a range of key economic and financial metrics.
Based on an analysis of 615 large and mid-cap U.S. publicly listed companies from 2001 to 2015, the paper’s findings highlight the benefits to long-termism, including:
Governance | Report
13 April 2026 - This research, conducted in collaboration with MSCI Institute and leveraging data from MSCI Solutions, examines how director equity ownership shapes long-term outcomes across more than 2,100 global public companies. The findings are clear and consistent across markets: when directors — particularly independent directors — hold meaningful, sustained equity stakes, companies deliver stronger long-term performance.
Governance | Toolkit
13 April 2026 - This toolkit is designed to support structured board-level discussion on how ownership connects to the company’s purpose, time horizon, and governance responsibilities.
Governance | Toolkit
13 April 2026 - This toolkit is intended to help long-term investors evaluate board ownership as a governance mechanism.