This study investigates whether the stewardship code mitigates the free-rider problem of institutional investors. We construct panel data of listed firms in 56 countries and examine the effects of the introduction of stewardship codes in 13 countries using a difference-in-differences approach....

The second edition of the Global Enterprise Blockchain Benchmarking Study provides new insights into the current state of the enterprise blockchain ecosystem. The study gathers survey data from 160 start-ups, established companies, central banks, and other public-sector institutions from 49...

The chapter begins by describing how a handful of recent cases pertaining to IP issues in the context of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) have generated considerable interest in the interface between investment and intellectual property. It suggests that it may be useful to take a...

Products often bundle together many functions e.g., smartphones. The firm develops the big idea (which functions to bundle) and then chooses one supplier per function. We develop a model featuring holdup in which the firm's bargaining power declines in the number of suppliers. Greater scope as...

Voters would be better off if they removed politicians offering low-quality government by pursuing populist policies and re-elected those who improved government quality with sustainable policies. In many political contexts, including those with free and fair elections, voters do the opposite....

Scholars have long argued that international organizations solve information problems through increased transparency. This article introduces a distinct problem that instead requires such institutions to keep information secret. We argue that states often seek to reveal intelligence about other...

We show that corporate taxation systems regarding foreign dividends and capital gains across 49 countries differ in many aspects, contradicting the requirements for capital ownership neutrality and indicating that ownership patterns are distorted. Consequently, a national tax policy maker may...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a political perspective on modifications in corporate governance regulation. In the wake of the financial crisis, the investment rationale of institutional investors is being pushed away from a focus on financial market liquidity and short-term...

In 2002, shortly after Paul Hunt was named as the first UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, he presented his vision for promoting the right to health as a fundamental human right, clarifying the content of this right and identifying good practices at the community, national, and...

There are complex GM-food-IP links. This article highlights sustainability and socioeconomic impacts, acknowledging that food safety is also a crucial part of food security. GM food plants has so far not contributed adequately to food security. Patent enforcement creates tension and power...