Effective design and implementation of corporate governance policies requires a good empirical understanding of the ownership and business landscape to which they will be applied. Chapter 1 therefore provides a global overview of developments related to stock markets, including their size, activities and ownership characteristics. The chapter also analyses corporate sustainability-related policies and practices, based upon new information collected for this edition in line with the new chapter of the revised G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. This includes regulatory frameworks on sustainability disclosure, policies and practices for assurance of sustainability-related information and use of an international disclosure standard. It also refers to provisions on board responsibilities for sustainability-related policies as well as practices on board committees responsible for sustainability-related issues and executive compensation linked to sustainability matters. The chapter also includes newly collected information on regulatory frameworks on ESG rating and data providers.