2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LAW5568M International Corporate Governance

15 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Zinian Zhang
Email: Z.Zhang2@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Pre-requisite qualifications

Either Company Law at undergraduate level in a common law jurisdiction or LAW5550M Corporate Law as a pre-requisite.

Pre-requisites

LAW5550M

Corporate Law

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Public companies play a critical role in the world's economy. The aim of the module is to provide a comprehensive study of the role of corporate governance (essentially how companies are governed) in the world economy. It will consider the various systems of corporate governance that operate around the world with a focus on the Anglo-American system (outsider system), the systems applying in Germany and Japan (insider systems), and that which has developed in China, with some comparison between these systems and consideration of the advantages and disadvantage of the respective systems. The module will examine the primary theories that are applied to corporate governance and it will investigate the main participants in governance, namely directors, shareholders (including, most importantly, institutional shareholders), employees and creditors and their roles and positions, and what protections they have. Some consideration is given to regulation and whether hard or soft law is appropriate as we as shareholder activism and executive remuneration.

Objectives

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- explain what corporate governance means, what are the primary corporate governance issues that exist, and what are the main corporate governance systems in the world;
- understand the primary theories of corporate governance, and to be able to articulate the shareholder primacy and stakeholder theories of corporate governance and to identify their respective strengths and weaknesses;
- understand the importance, and role, of corporate governance in the companies of today;
- be able to explain the arguments for and against regulation in corporate governance and what forms regulation can take;
- distinguish between outsider and insider systems of corporate governance;
- be able to explain the problems caused by the separation of management and control in public companies;
- identify those who have a stake in companies and what protections they have available to them;
- be able to explain the rights and remedies available to shareholders.

Syllabus

Public companies play a critical role in the world's economy. The aim of the module is to provide a comprehensive study of the role of corporate governance (essentially how companies are governed) in the world economy. It will consider the various systems of corporate governance that operate around the world with a focus on the Anglo-American system (outsider system), the systems applying in Germany and Japan (insider systems), and that which has developed in China, with some comparison between these systems and consideration of the advantages and disadvantage of the respective systems. The module will examine the primary theories that are applied to corporate governance and it will investigate the main participants in governance, namely directors, shareholders (including, most importantly, institutional shareholders), employees and creditors and their roles and positions, and what protections they have. Some consideration is given to regulation and whether hard or soft law is appropriate as we as shareholder activism and executive remuneration.

Teaching methods

Private study hours			150.00
Total Contact hours			0.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

The School is committed to providing an excellent student education and experience. This will involve a variety of teaching methods and follow a blended learning model, including meaningful on-campus in-person teaching for all students. Further information regarding teaching delivery will follow.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

By attendance at, and participation in, seminars

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 4,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/09/2021 17:02:41

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