Sherman, John III2025-09-172021-01Sherman, John F. III “Irresponsible Exit: Exercising Force Majeure Provisions in Procurement Contracts.” Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Working Paper No. 77. Cambridge, MA: John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, January 2021.https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/42719208The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the collapse of global supply chains. The world economy went into free fall. In order to preserve cash liquidity, many Western buyers reflexively cancelled or curtailed purchase orders that were completed or in process, without assessing or attempting to mitigate the impact on vulnerable workers in their supply chain. Tens of thousands of workers were suddenly unemployed, with no savings, no severance payments, and no government safety net.Working Paper