Corporate Governance

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Are Narcissistic CEOs All That Bad?
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Latest Stories in Corporate Governance

February 02, 2021
Written
The Self-Destructive Downside to Corporate Political Spending
There are risks to the bottom line when a firm’s shadowy political donations run counter to its image of social responsibility.
Government
New York City office skyscraper with US Flags Reflection in the sunlight. Credit: iStock/PPAMPicture
January 19, 2021
Written
Homogeneity at the Top
New research drills down on C-suite diversity in Fortune 100 firms and finds there’s a lot more work to do.
Corporate Governance
Layered illustrations of mens profiles in similar shades of white and light gray. Credit: Tricia Seibold and iStock/Leontura
October 08, 2020
Written
Anat Admati on Milton Friedman and Justice
Friedman’s credo that corporations should focus only on maximizing shareholder value rests on assumptions that are “far from true in the real world.”
Corporate Governance
An illustration of a hand manipulating justice. Credit: Reuters/erhui1979
July 15, 2020
Written
Stimulus Money Might Stimulate Insider Trading
A new study reveals that politically connected shareholders cashed in with suspiciously well-timed trades during the 2008 federal bailout.
Corporate Governance
Man in a bowler hat with his face obscured by a one hundred dollar bill. Credit: Cory Hall
May 04, 2020
Written
Tax Havens Mask Global Risk Exposures
Corporations raise vast sums of money through subsidiaries in tax havens. A new study unravels big surprises in global imbalances.
Finance
Cayman National Bank is pictured in George Town, Cayman Islands. Credit: Reuters/Gary Hershorn
April 30, 2020
Written
How Narcissistic Leaders Destroy from Within
When the person at the top is malignant and self-serving, unethical behavior cascades through the organization and becomes legitimized.
Leadership
A photo illustration of an office chair that looks like a throne. Credit: Alvaro Dominguez
February 14, 2020
Written
Democracy and Prosperity Require Uncorrupted Governments
We don’t have to choose between capitalism and socialism. What we need is a system in which corporations can thrive without distorting the economy — or democracy itself.
Government
A photo illustration of the face of Benjamin Franklin on the hundred dollar bill peeking out from behind the U.S. Flag. Credit: iStock/Bill Oxford
January 09, 2020
Written
When Private-Sector Firms Create a Culture of Health
Investments in employees, consumers, communities, and the environment vary widely. A new study reveals this range and the hurdles to measuring success.
Health Care
Volunteer Lena Haug, a native of Santa Cruz, CA, waters plants at an urban gardening project. Credit: Reuters/Thomas Peter
January 06, 2020
Written
Good Corporate Governance Is a Great Idea, But Is Anyone Practicing It?
There’s little evidence that common board best practices lead to better oversight.
Corporate Governance
Business people in a board room. Credit: iStock/Morsa Images
December 19, 2019
Video
Should CEOs Take a Stance on Controversial Topics?
CEOs have traditionally shied away from politically charged issues, but that may be changing.
Corporate Governance
David Larker, The James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at Stanford GSB, smiling outdoors in front of a green background. Credit: Nancy Rothstein.
December 06, 2019
Written
Gift List: 10 Books to Share for the Holidays
Stanford GSB professors recommend the books they’re most likely to give as presents over this year’s holiday season.
Career & Success
A stack of books being unwrapped. Credit: iStock/Thinglass
November 04, 2019
Written
Narcissistic CEOs Weaken Collaboration and Integrity
Some may be bold leaders, but they create a dangerous corporate culture.
Organizational Behavior
An employee works on a computer terminal against the backdrop of a picture of late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs at the Startup Village in Kinfra Hi-Tech Park. Credit: Reuters/Sivaram V
October 18, 2019
Video
How Corporations Use Tax Havens to Maximize Profits
What does it mean for a company to pay its fair share?
Accounting
Lisa De Simone. Credit: Nancy Rothstein
September 24, 2019
Written
People Before Profits: A New American Credo?
America’s top CEOs say their companies will focus on all stakeholders, but a corporate governance expert remains skeptical.
Corporate Governance
Apple employees carry rainbow flags as they march in the San Francisco Gay Pride Festival. Thousands of Apple employees donned specially designed T-shirts at the festival. Credit: Reuters/Noah Berger
September 17, 2019
Written
Do Investors Really Care About Gender Diversity?
Shareholders penalize tech and finance companies for not hiring enough women, new research shows.
Organizational Behavior
Men shown in the lobby with the Google logo reflected in the background. Credit: Reuters/Stephen Lam
July 12, 2019
Video
Fixing a Rigged System
Anat R. Admati explains why our financial system still struggles with misconduct.
Accounting
Anat R. Admati, Credit: Nancy Rothstein
May 23, 2019
Written
Will Investors Pay a Premium for Being Green?
Despite the surging focus on environmental sustainability, a new study suggests investors still care about the old kind of green.
Finance
Children play in the early morning sun in Central Park in New York. Credit: Reuters/Carlo Allegri
April 24, 2019
Written
Why Self-Regulation Can Pay Off
Companies that try to fix problems on their own may sidestep more onerous regulations in the future.
Political Economy
Image of bundle of plastic straws. Credit: Eric Gaillard
March 15, 2019
Written
Businesses Behaving Badly: The State of Corporate Scandal in 2019
Expert panelists put corporate wrongdoing in its broader context.
Finance
Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf arrives to testify before a Senate Banking Committee hearing on the firm’s sales practices on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2016. Credit: Reuters/Gary Cameron
December 19, 2018
Written
What Does “Value” Mean to You?
Stanford GSB faculty recommend books, articles, and movies related to the concept.
Career & Success
A contemplative figure. Credit: Jocelyn Tsaih