University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised November 2002)                   

 

 

Code:   UPEN4A-15-M               Title: Corporate Governance in the Global Economy   Version: 1

 

Level:  M                                  UWE credit rating: 15               ECTS credit rating: 7.5

 

Module type:  Standard

 

Owning Faculty: HLSS             Field: Economics         

 

Valid from:      September 2004                                     Discontinued from:

 

Pre-requisites:             None

 

Co-requisites:               None

 

Excluded combinations:          None

 

Learning outcomes:

 

By the end of this module, the student should be able to:

 

·         Critically evaluate and appraise relevant theories underpinning the study of corporate governance (Component A)

·         Identify, compare and contrast governance regimes in major economies of the global system (Component A)

·         Critically evaluate the economic consequences of various corporate governance practices in organisations such as businesses and public sector bodies (Component A & B)

·         On the basis of independent study, profile and understand the influence of securities markets and financial institutions on governance in a business context and be able to establish its relevance to corporate decision making (Component B)

 

Syllabus outline:

 

·         The economics of governance; agency and trust theories; institutional theory, the relevance of games and models

·         The economics of corporate existence: theories and definitions; the commercial corporation

·         Economic governance systems: capitalist taxonomy

·         The Governance of multi-national corporations

·         Corporate governance practices compared, especially the "governors" - directors, virtual directors, trustees and other principals

 

·         Shareholder rights and the role of other stakeholders

·         The influence of securities markets; share and bond ratings; the conveyance of economic messages

 

Teaching and learning methods: 

 

A variety of teaching methods will be employed in this module.  In addition to standard staff-centred teaching, students will be expected to contribute using their own research material and experience. Where relevant, video material and contemporary written source material will also be used to initiate discussion of practical policy issues. Students will be provided with detailed reading, resources lists and various materials used throughout the course. Links to other sources will be made available through on-line learning resources. However, as postgraduate students, those following this module will also be expected to find and use alternative material using their own knowledge and initiative. Students will be expected to put forward, rationalise, substantiate and defend points of view on controversial matters in class.

 

 

 

 

Indicative sources:

 

J Charkham, 1998, Keeping Good Company, Macmillan, London.

A Demb and FF Neubauer, 1992, The Corporate Board - Confronting the Paradoxes, OUP,

                                                            Oxford.

Janet Dine, 2000, The Governance of Corporate Groups, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Frydman and Rapaczynski, 1997, Corporate Governance in Central and Eastern Europe, Central European Press, Budapest.

Klaus Hopt, 1998, Comparative Corporate Governanc, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

RAG Monks and N Minow, 1995, Corporate Governanc, Blackwell, Oxford.

Giles Proctor, 2002, Corporate Governance, Cavendish Press, London.

AB Schmookler, 1993, The Illusion of Choice: How the Market Economy shapes our Destiny, State University of New York Press, Albany.

 

 

Journals to be employed in this module include: Corporate Governance; Harvard Business Review; Journal of Political Economy; International Journal of Industrial Organisation etc.

 

Assessment

 

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only)   A: 50%   B: 50%

 

ATTEMPT 1

 

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting     

1.  An in-class written assessment under controlled conditions (2 hours)                50%

 

Component B

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting     

1.  2,000 word essay                                                                                          50%

 

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting     

1. A written assessment under controlled conditions (2hours)                                50%

 

Component B

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting     

1.  2,000 word essay                                                                                          50%

 

 

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is not  required.

 

Specification confirmed by  Module approved at VARSC 13.05.04.……… Date …………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)