Corporate Governance: A Synthesis of Theory, Research, and Practice

The importance of corporate governance became dramatically clear at the beginning of the twenty–first century as a series of corporate meltdowns from managerial fraud, misconduct, and negligence caused a massive loss of shareholder wealth. But despite the heightened attention on corporate governance practices, many questions still exist.

That is why Corporate Governance, part of the Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance, is such a useful resource. Filled with in–depth insights and practical advice, this book provides a comprehensive synthesis of the numerous theoretical and practical issues that arise from the debate on how to govern effectively.

With coverage of the systems, processes, and procedures integral to the relationship between managers, majority shareholders, and minority shareholders, this book offers a clear view of current governance practices and carefully examines the mechanisms that mitigate the principal–agent conflict.

Written by an array of corporate governance experts, the contributed chapters of this book offer multiple perspectives and contain a series of discussion questions and answers to help reinforce key concepts. The book:

• Presents a brief history of corporate governance, details the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance, and discusses the separation of ownership and control

• Examines the various aspects of internal governance including the role of the board of directors, as well as reviews the importance of compensation, equity ownership structure, and turnover as internal control mechanisms

• Explores numerous external governance devices from non–executive to non–equity shareholders,and addresses the role that accounting, legal, and regulatory intervention play in corporate governance

Engaging and informative, Corporate Governance will help anyone gain a better understanding of this multifaceted subject for academic or applied purposes. This book provides a useful guide to the most essential concepts and principles of corporate governance.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance is an unparalleled source of information dedicated to the most important issues in modern finance. Each book focuses on a specific topic in the field of finance and contains contributed chapters from both respected academics and experienced financial professionals. As part of the Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance, Corporate Governance aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of this important discipline by examining its various aspects.

Good corporate governance is important because it not only provides the cornerstone for the integrity of corporations, financial institutions, and markets, but also is central to the health and stability of the world economy. As the recent financial crisis has shown, proper corporate governance is essential to excel in today′s tumultuous business environment.

Filled with in–depth insights and expert advice, Corporate Governance offers a comprehensive view of the shareholder–manager relationship and examines the current state of governance mechanisms in mitigating the principal–agent conflict. Divided into four informative parts, this detailed guide:

• Relies on recent research findings to provide guidance through the maze of corporate governance theories and concepts

• Addresses essential issues related to corporate governance including the idea of principal–agent conflict, role of the board of directors, executive compensation, corporate monitoring, proxy contests and corporate takeovers, and regulatory intervention

• Uses a structured approach to put corporate governance in perspective

• Discusses the trade–offs involved in following corporate governance best practices

Focusing on the governance of for–profit, publicly owned businesses whose main concern is to improve shareholder welfare and value, this book puts you in a better position to understand the role of corporate governance in today′s business world and the requirements needed for effective implementation.