They Rule, We Comply
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A great new Web site displays visual maps of the connections between the boards of directors of hundreds of major corporations, educational institutions, think tanks, and government bodies. They Rule has a database of directors of all these institutions, compiled from SEC filings (it is accurate as of the beginning of the year, but is not updated in real time). You can build your own maps by selecting any two or more institutions; the application will automatically show you how the directors of each are connected by a “Kevin Bacon”-style series of links through board memberships on other organizations. It will also let you look at interesting maps created by others.
Get past the long and annoying entry tunnel to the page with a list of functions in the upper-left corner. Choose “Load Map,” and then “Popular” from the box that pops up. A list of popular maps will appear. “How nonpartisan?” gives a look at the truly amazing number of directorships held by the staff of the Brookings Institute. “GHW Bush –> Clinton” profiles the directorships of the cabinet members of both Presidents: Bushies, not surprisingly, have more, but what’s interesting is there is a middle link of companies like JP Morgan, United Technologies, Verizon, etc. that stand at one or two links’ remove to both cabinets.
