1. Explain the reason for the Basel II and III accords. What are their purpose, and how do they restrict the operations of banks? In your answer, use a hypothetical example to show how capital adequacy standards work in the Australian setting.

2. The pools of capital managed by fiduciaries in Australia are greater than our GDP in size; the decisions we make about how to invest that capital have broad implications for the financial system and our society. As allocators of capital we need to examine our role as contributors to our collective future and actively engage in the development of solutions that can both deliver the retirement needs of our members and help shape the society we want to retire into.

Please respond to the following questions by drawing upon relevant concepts/theories you have learnt in this unit.

2.a) Discuss existing shortcomings of current market practices.

2.b) Explain what needs to change in order to make capital markets more sustainable and accountable for their economic, social, and environmental impacts on people and the planet.