The Societal Impacts of Mergers and Acquisitions

We examine the societal implications of acquisitions. We review extant studies addressing the relationship between acquisitions and the societal impacts of acquisitions. In considering the impacts of acquisitions on different spheres of society, we adopt the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) launched in 2015 by the United Nations. The SDGs provide a framework of 17 global challenges, including inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice, to be addressed to attain a more sustainable society. Leveraging the SDG framework, we map extant research on the impacts of acquisitions on, society, and associated regulation of acquisitions by the government. This allows us to outline how acquisitions can contribute and/or hamper the achievement of societal goals, providing a roadmap for future research and policymaking.