Reframing Corporate Governance

Company Law Beyond Law and Economics

Corporations, Globalisation and the Law series

Javier Reyes, Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki, Finland

This stimulating book offers an astute analysis of corporate governance from both a historical and a philosophical point of view. Exploring how the modern corporation developed, from Ancient Rome and the Middle Ages up to the present day, Javier Reyes identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the mainstream theory of the firm as put forward by the law and economics school of thought.

‘Reyes’ book is unique in its breadth and scope and makes a valuable contribution by situating corporate governance within its political, philosophical and historical contexts.’
– Jonathan Chan, Modern Law Review

‘As Javier Reyes points out, “The corporation may not be a mystery of eternity or life, but it is a window into the big questions of human nature.” The author of this book depicts an impressive historical timeline from Ancient Rome to this day. Each page of the book portrays the author’s vast knowledge, whether it is about organizational theory, economic history, philosophy, psychology or legal history. However, Reyes’ book manages to avoid any academic dreariness. Reyes draws a set of guidelines for a new type of a general theory, without trying to offer ultimate truths. He is an excellent pedagogue putting forth the right questions and thus allowing the reader to come up with the answers by himself. During my university years, books of this quality were scarce.’
——威利Rydman, MP, Finnish Parliament

‘Javier Reyes offers new scholarly and theoretical perspectives on corporate law and governance. He seeks to reframe our thinking by exposing political and ideological features of mainstream law and economics and their effects on corporate governance thinking. This impressive book provides new analytical tools and is essential reading for corporate lawyers.’
– Roman Tomasic, University of South Australia