Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Cambridge handbook of corporate law, corporate governance and sustainability |
| Editors | Beate Sjåfjell, Christopher Bruner |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press/UNEP |
| Chapter | 19 |
| Pages | 260-275 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Edition | 2019 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781108658386 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781108473293 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2019 |
Publication series
| Name | Cambridge Handbook |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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Corporate sustainability and shareholder activism in the Netherlands. / Lafarre, Anne; van der Elst, Christoph.
The Cambridge handbook of corporate law, corporate governance and sustainability. ed. / Beate Sjåfjell; Christopher Bruner. 2019. ed. Cambridge University Press/UNEP, 2019. p. 260-275 (Cambridge Handbook).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
TY - CHAP
T1 - Corporate sustainability and shareholder activism in the Netherlands
AU - Lafarre, Anne
AU - van der Elst, Christoph
PY - 2019/11
Y1 - 2019/11
N2 - The involvement of companies is key for a sustainable society, but it is debated whether shareholders can stimulate the achievement of corporate sustainability goals. We investigate shareholder sustainability engagement in the Netherlands. First, we present the Dutch corporate law framework in a sustainability context. Dutch corporate law can generally be considered stakeholder-oriented. Afterwards, we present a novel empirical analysis of shareholder corporate sustainability engagement in the Netherlands using Dutch annual general meeting transcripts. We find that, although shareholders do not make use of their right to add proposals to the agenda to advocate corporate sustainability, shareholders do in fact use their right to ask questions. Our findings provide new indications that, in addition to the pivotal role of corporate boards, shareholders may be increasingly willing to play a positive role in corporate sustainability.
AB - The involvement of companies is key for a sustainable society, but it is debated whether shareholders can stimulate the achievement of corporate sustainability goals. We investigate shareholder sustainability engagement in the Netherlands. First, we present the Dutch corporate law framework in a sustainability context. Dutch corporate law can generally be considered stakeholder-oriented. Afterwards, we present a novel empirical analysis of shareholder corporate sustainability engagement in the Netherlands using Dutch annual general meeting transcripts. We find that, although shareholders do not make use of their right to add proposals to the agenda to advocate corporate sustainability, shareholders do in fact use their right to ask questions. Our findings provide new indications that, in addition to the pivotal role of corporate boards, shareholders may be increasingly willing to play a positive role in corporate sustainability.
U2 - 10.1017/9781108658386.025
DO - 10.1017/9781108658386.025
M3 - Chapter
SN - 9781108473293
T3 - Cambridge Handbook
SP - 260
EP - 275
BT - The Cambridge handbook of corporate law, corporate governance and sustainability
A2 - Sjåfjell, Beate
A2 - Bruner, Christopher
PB - Cambridge University Press/UNEP
ER -