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Corporate Governance in Scandinavia: Comparing Networks and Formal Institutions

Sinani, Evis ; Stafsudd, Anna LU ; Thomsen, Steen ; Edling, Christofer and Randøy, Trond (2008) In international corporate governance, small worlds, social networks, law and finance
Abstract
This article addresses the role of formal institutions and informal networks on corporate governance practices. The existing corporate governance literature has mostly examined the formal institutions, such as the effect of legal systems. Our contribution is to consider the effect of informal “small world” characteristics of ownership and board networks. We use the case of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) to examine these effects. Our empirical results reveal large differences in formal board and ownership structures between the Scandinavian countries, but strong similarities in terms of law enforcement, political stability, government effectiveness, rule of law, control of corruption as well as voice and accountability. We find... (More)
This article addresses the role of formal institutions and informal networks on corporate governance practices. The existing corporate governance literature has mostly examined the formal institutions, such as the effect of legal systems. Our contribution is to consider the effect of informal “small world” characteristics of ownership and board networks. We use the case of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) to examine these effects. Our empirical results reveal large differences in formal board and ownership structures between the Scandinavian countries, but strong similarities in terms of law enforcement, political stability, government effectiveness, rule of law, control of corruption as well as voice and accountability. We find that all three countries can be characterized as “small worlds” in which trust, information diffusion and reputation mechanisms are active governance mechanisms. (Less)
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international corporate governance, small worlds, social networks, law and finance
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English
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yes
id
aba77703-1d79-4ce0-b957-34c608564ed6 (old id 1386798)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 13:41:29
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2018-11-21 21:15:38
@article{aba77703-1d79-4ce0-b957-34c608564ed6,
  abstract     = {{This article addresses the role of formal institutions and informal networks on corporate governance practices. The existing corporate governance literature has mostly examined the formal institutions, such as the effect of legal systems. Our contribution is to consider the effect of informal “small world” characteristics of ownership and board networks. We use the case of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) to examine these effects. Our empirical results reveal large differences in formal board and ownership structures between the Scandinavian countries, but strong similarities in terms of law enforcement, political stability, government effectiveness, rule of law, control of corruption as well as voice and accountability. We find that all three countries can be characterized as “small worlds” in which trust, information diffusion and reputation mechanisms are active governance mechanisms.}},
  author       = {{Sinani, Evis and Stafsudd, Anna and Thomsen, Steen and Edling, Christofer and Randøy, Trond}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  series       = {{international corporate governance, small worlds, social networks, law and finance}},
  title        = {{Corporate Governance in Scandinavia: Comparing Networks and Formal Institutions}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}