Governance And Ethics Flashcards
What is governance?
A system by which organisations are directed and controlled
Effects of poor governance
- Falling share price
- Corporate failure
- Criticism of accountants or auditors
The agency problem
When managers pursue their own interests not those of the shareholders
How should good corporate governance reduce the agency problem?
Aligning management objectives with shareholder objectives
Corporate governance
Relationships between management, board, shareholders, other stakeholders which structures the setting, attaining and monitoring objectives
What do corporate governance objectives depend on?
Perspective
Social responsibility
How far it exceeds the minimum obligation owed to stakeholders and society
Esp stakeholders unprotected by contractual/business relationships
Natural capital
The world’s natural assets, used in order to live
Geology, soil, air, wager
Sustainability
Ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Business sustainability
How far a business goes to operate in a sustainable
What is the achievement of sustainability part of?
Corporate responsibility
Key goals for businesses in UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation, infrastructure
- Responsible consumption and production
2 functions of a financial system
- Transmission of money
- Facility of lending and borrowing money
3 elements of a financial system
- Intermediaries
(Banks, pension funds, unit trusts etc.) - Securities
(Shares and bonds) - Markets
What thing that a country has that affects the style of corporate governance that develops?
Its financial system
Intermediaries function
To reduce problem of asymmetric information by giving ADVICE to poorly informed customers/investors
The 2 types of financial system
- Bank based
- Market based
Bank-based financial system
Bank lending most important
(After retained earnings)
Banks doing the lending are highly integrated: Holding equity, representing board
Banks concentrated and integrated (proving both banking and insurance etc.)
Stock markets are volatile and speculative because companies have high gearing
More gov regulation of markets
Households have little risk (money mainly held in deposit)
Securities investment done via intermediaries, so institutional shareholders are influential
Market-based financial system
Markets more important than banks for long term finance
Banks have less close relationships with businesses they lend to
Banks less integrated
Unregulated markets comparatively
Households bare more risk so likely have more equity investments
Indirect investment via intermediaries e.g. pension funds so institutional investors have high influence
Hofstede: power distance
Acceptance of power differential, rank and status