1st Edition

The Making of Shareholder Welfare Society A Study in Corporate Governance

By Alexander Styhre Copyright 2018
    258 Pages
    by Routledge

    258 Pages
    by Routledge

    The Making of Shareholder Welfare Society traces and accounts for the debates and discussions between law and economics scholars and mainstream legal scholars, management theorists, and economic sociologists. This is done in detail to demonstrate that the shareholder welfare society was built from the bottom up, beginning with theoretical propositions regarding alleged market efficiencies and leading all the way to the idea that a society characterized by economic freedom and efficiency maximization pave the way for uncompromised shareholder welfare, in turn being good for everyone.





    This book is of relevance for a variety of readers, including graduate students, management scholars, policy-makers, and management consultants, as well as those that are concerned about how the economic system of competitive capitalism is now in a position where it is riddled by doubts and concern, not the least as the levels of economic inequality is soaring. It addresses the topics with regard to corporate governance, accounting and society and will be of interest to researchers, academics, students, and members of the general public that are concerned about the economic system of competitive capitalism.

    Part 1: The Making of Shareholder Value Ideology, 1950-1980





    1. The 1950s’ Antitrust Legislation and Enforcement Critique and Its Response



    2. 1960s and the Market For Management Control Argument



    3. 1970s: The Contractual Theory of the Firm



    4. 1980s: Agency Theory and the Shareholder Welfare Norm



    Part II: Into the Wild: The 1990s and Into the New Millennium



    5. Finance Market De-Regulation and the Decline of New Deal Policy: Clinton Era Free Market Reforms



    6. The New Millennium: Volatility, Crises, and Austerity

    Biography

    Alexander Styhre is Chair of Organization Theory and Management, Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.