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Research by the Corporate Governance Research Initiative

CGRI research spans these topics: general principles, board of directors, leadership and succession planning, compensation, audit and risk, shareholders, and proxy advisory.

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Stanford Closer Look Series

Short studies on topics, issues, and controversies in corporate governance.

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Surveys

Insight into current issues and practices of leading organizations.

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Quick Guides & Research Spotlights

Concise introductions to concepts, facts, and research on corporate governance.

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Core Concepts

A guide to understanding concepts of corporate governance.

Core Concept|

CEO Compensation: A Guide to Understanding Concepts of Corporate Governance

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Core Concepts Series. June
2017

A roadmap to understanding the fundamental concepts of corporate governance based on theory, empirical research, and data. This guide takes an in-depth look at CEO compensation.

Stanford Closer Look|

Retired or Fired: How Can Investors Tell if a CEO Was Pressured to Leave?

Ian D. Gow, David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. May
2017

CEO succession at many companies occurs in a black box. Shareholders are not privy to boardroom discussions prior to the announcement of a CEO departure, and press releases announcing the...

Stanford Closer Look|

An Activist View of CEO Compensation

Alex Baum, David Robert Hale, Mason Morfit, David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. April
2017

Understanding CEO compensation plans is a continuing challenge for directors and investors. The disclosure of these plans is dictated by SEC rules that rely heavily on the “fair value” of...

Quick Guide|

CEO Compensation: Data

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
CGRI Quick Guide Series. April
2017

This Data Spotlight provides data and statistics on the level and structure of CEO compensation in the United States. This data supplements in the issues introduced in the Quick Guides...

Research Spotlight|

Equity, Insider Trading, & Restatements

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
CGRI Research Spotlight Series. April
2017

This Research Spotlight provides a summary of the academic literature on the impact of equity ownership on firm performance and agency problems:

  • The relation between equity ownership and performance
    • ...
Stanford Closer Look|

Board Evaluations and Boardroom Dynamics

Taylor Griffin, David F. Larcker, Stephen A. Miles, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, March
2017

The boards of all publicly traded companies are required to conduct a self-evaluation at least annually to determine whether they are functioning effectively. Research suggests that while many directors are...

Quick Guide|

CEO Pay Levels

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
CGRI Research Spotlight Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, March
2017

This Research Spotlight provides a summary of the academic literature on CEO pay levels in the United States. It reviews the evidence of:

  • Long-term trends in the CEO compensation
    • ...
Stanford Closer Look|

From Boardroom to C-Suite: Why Would a Company Pick a Current Director as CEO?

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. March
2017

Many observers consider the most important responsibility of the board of directors its responsibility to hire and fire the CEO. To this end, an interesting situation arises when a CEO...

Core Concept|

CEO Succession Planning: A Guide to Understanding Concepts of Corporate Governance

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Core Concepts Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, February
2017

A roadmap to understanding the fundamental concepts of corporate governance based on theory, empirical research, and data. This guide takes an in-depth look at CEO succession planning.

Survey|

Punishing CEOs for Bad Behavior: 2017 Public Perception Survey

David F. Larcker, Nicholas E. Donatiello, Brian Tayan
CGRI Survey Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance, February
2017

In summer 2016, the Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University conducted a nationwide survey of 1,554 individuals to understand how the American public views CEOs who...

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Corporate Governance Insights by Stanford Business

January 6, 2017
Infographic

Do Corporate Boards Pick the Best CEOs?

Research shows what happens to succession winners and losers.
A businessman walks across the street, wheeling a bag. | Reuters/Yuya Shino
January 27, 2016
Written

Who Runs Silicon Valley Boards?

It’s an insular group, but with a couple surprises.
Twentysomething hipster standing while talking to a group of seated meeting participants | iStock/Yuri_Arcurs
October 29, 2015
Written

What Is It Like to Be Owned by Warren Buffett?

A new survey reveals Berkshire’s management style.
Illustration of Warren Buffett | Vivienne Flesher
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