Understanding the Company

This book provides comparative perspectives on the purpose of the modern company, its role in society and its regulation.

Using comparative perspectives, this book explores how companies should be conceptualized and regulated in the future. It will appeal to academics working in the area of corporate law, corporate governance, and business and management, as well as corporate law foundations.What is the purpose of the company and its role in society? From their origin in medieval times to their modern incarnation as powerful transnational bodies, companies remain an important part of business and society at large. Drawing from a variety of perspectives, this book adopts a normative approach to understanding the modern company and provides insights into how companies should be conceptualized. It considers key topics such as the development of corporate theory, the rights and obligations of the company, and the means and ends of corporate governance. Written by leading experts of different jurisdictions, this book provides important international viewpoints on some of the most pressing corporate governance questions.