Study

Corporate governance is a major policy issue in business regulation, and has increasingly become headline news in recent political debates. This course will discuss the major debates in corporate governance, the challenges for designing an optimal system for governing corporations, and the increasingly important role of lawyers in these policy debates. To that end, the course will host guest speakers with various backgrounds that have unique experience in corporate governance matters. The course will focus on a range of issues. For example, is shareholder activism by hedge funds and other institutional shareholders good for shareholder value, or does it promote short-termism? Are CEOs paid too much, and should their compensation be regulated? How can for-profit firms be designed to pursue social missions and avoid green-washing? Do anti-takeover devices entrench managers or promote long-term strategic growth? Does state competition for corporate charters lead to a race to the top or the bottom? In discussing each of these topics, this course will consider whether corporations are best regulated by the government or market discipline. As part of the course, students will acquire the skills to review empirical studies, and evaluate the implications of these studies for legal policy and corporate practice. To fulfill the requirements for this course, students will have the option to write short reaction papers or the opportunity to work on a substantial research paper (subject to the approval of the instructor).

Enrollment Pre-/Co- Requisite Information

Law 210 Business Associations is a pre-requisite. It may be taken concurrently with instructor permission.

Spring 2020

Course Number	Course Credits	Evaluation Method	Instructor
529.01	Course Credits 3	Reflective Writing Research paper, 25+ pages	Ofer Eldar
Sakai site: https://sakai.duke.edu/portal/site/LAW.529.01.Sp20
Email list: LAW.529.01.Sp20@sakai.duke.edu