Diffusion of corporate governance beliefs. Board independence and the emergence of a shareholder value orientation in the Netherlands

The globalization and liberalization of national economies have contributed to an increasing diffusion of Anglo-American corporate governance practices worldwide. In this dissertation, we examine the spread of two types of corporate governance beliefs: the emerging focus on board independence and a shareholder value orientation. Through a series of five studies, utilizing multiple theoretical lenses, levels of analysis and methods, we analyze developments in the formal independence of supervisory boards and a greater focus on shareholder value in the Netherlands, and examine the antecedents an... Mehr ...