A primer on Corporate governance. Italy

MELIS, ANDREA;ZATTONI, ALESSANDRO

2017-01-01

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Abstract

This book provides an understanding of the characteristics and the peculiarities of corporate governance in Italy, one of the most developed countries in the world, symbol of the family capitalism. The authors combine their knowledge of academic research with their professional experience to help the reader interpret the nuances of corporate governance practices in Italian companies. Those practices have been driven not only by the globalization of markets, but also by national economic, social, and political forces, resulting in a unique corporate governance system, which deeply differs from the Anglo-American one. The reader of this book will get an understanding of the choices that Italian companies, and the people in the corporate boardrooms, make in designing corporate governance systems, the potential benefits and problems that they imply, and the antecedents of such choices. The authors have included several real-life case studies to help the reader grasp the subtleties of how power is exercised in Italian boardrooms. This book is, therefore, particularly relevant for a wide international audience, including non-Italian investors, corporate directors, scholars, and practitioners, as it provides useful insights to make judgments and, eventually, decisions supported by a deep understanding of corporate governance in Italy. As such, it may also be suitable as a textbook in postgraduate university courses and executive education programs on corporate governance in Italy.