The future of corporate ownership and governance

Corporations are failing to address sweeping societal changes and problems, and concepts of shareholding, ownership, and governance should evolve accordingly. While ownership of legal title carries with it rights to control, we ask whether and how other forms of influence or authority might become s...

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Main Authors: Kustin, B, Johnstone-Louis, M, Chan, J
Format: Working paper
Language:English
Published: The British Academy, Future of the Corporation Project 2019
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author Kustin, B
Johnstone-Louis, M
Chan, J
author_facet Kustin, B
Johnstone-Louis, M
Chan, J
author_sort Kustin, B
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description Corporations are failing to address sweeping societal changes and problems, and concepts of shareholding, ownership, and governance should evolve accordingly. While ownership of legal title carries with it rights to control, we ask whether and how other forms of influence or authority might become salient through alternative conceptions of corporate governance. Central to this are questions of corporate purpose: who can establish it? Can it be made to meaningfully influence corporate activities? Can the rights to financial rewards engendered by ownership of legal title (including by blockholders and family business owners) be linked to responsibilities to manage corporate purpose over time? Focusing on the importance of long-termism, corporate responsibilities and obligations toward stakeholders beyond shareholders, and empowerment and access, we present recommendations (and illustrative case studies) as pathways to transformative change and responsible business for the 21st century.
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spelling oxford-uuid:34f0f206-7ae6-483b-bce5-11553a9816982022-03-26T13:29:13ZThe future of corporate ownership and governanceWorking paperhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_8042uuid:34f0f206-7ae6-483b-bce5-11553a981698EnglishSymplectic ElementsThe British Academy, Future of the Corporation Project2019Kustin, BJohnstone-Louis, MChan, JCorporations are failing to address sweeping societal changes and problems, and concepts of shareholding, ownership, and governance should evolve accordingly. While ownership of legal title carries with it rights to control, we ask whether and how other forms of influence or authority might become salient through alternative conceptions of corporate governance. Central to this are questions of corporate purpose: who can establish it? Can it be made to meaningfully influence corporate activities? Can the rights to financial rewards engendered by ownership of legal title (including by blockholders and family business owners) be linked to responsibilities to manage corporate purpose over time? Focusing on the importance of long-termism, corporate responsibilities and obligations toward stakeholders beyond shareholders, and empowerment and access, we present recommendations (and illustrative case studies) as pathways to transformative change and responsible business for the 21st century.
spellingShingle Kustin, B
Johnstone-Louis, M
Chan, J
The future of corporate ownership and governance
title The future of corporate ownership and governance
title_full The future of corporate ownership and governance
title_fullStr The future of corporate ownership and governance
title_full_unstemmed The future of corporate ownership and governance
title_short The future of corporate ownership and governance
title_sort future of corporate ownership and governance
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