More than Meets the Eye: Law and Economics in Modern Company Law

LAW AND ECONOMICS. ESSAYS IN HONOUR OF ERLING EIDE, pp. 217-235, Erik Røsæg, Hans-Bernd Schäfer and Endre Stavang, eds., Cappelen Akademisk, 2010

Nordic & European Company Law Working Paper No. 10-05 Nordic & European Company Law Working Paper No. 10-05

University of Oslo Faculty of Law Research Paper No. 2011-24

21 Pages Posted: 13 May 2010 Last revised: 1 Aug 2011

See all articles by Beate Sjåfjell

Beate Sjåfjell

University of Oslo - Faculty of Law; College of Europe - European Legal Studies Department

Abstract

Law and economics, or legal-economics, is the field of science that introduces economic theory into legal theory and enriches them both. The rise of law and economics within company law is significant in at least three ways. Firstly, law and economics may contribute to the structuring of analytical issues and provide valuable insights both through theoretical contributions and empirical studies. Secondly, company law legislation and academic debate are increasingly based on legal-economic theory or at least sought substantiated with reference to legal-economic terms. Thirdly, and accordingly, the legal-economic assumptions that form the basis for legislation and for positions in the academic debate need to assessed.

This article concentrates on the first topic: The use of law and economics to structure a legal analysis. Inspired by the mainstream version of agency theory, the article confronts its overly shareholder-focused perspective and offers an alternative analytical structure.

Keywords: Law and economics, agency theory, company law, securities law, shareholders, board, management, employees, takeovers, takeover directive, sustainable development

Suggested Citation

Sjåfjell, Beate, More than Meets the Eye: Law and Economics in Modern Company Law. LAW AND ECONOMICS. ESSAYS IN HONOUR OF ERLING EIDE, pp. 217-235, Erik Røsæg, Hans-Bernd Schäfer and Endre Stavang, eds., Cappelen Akademisk, 2010, Nordic & European Company Law Working Paper No. 10-05 Nordic & European Company Law Working Paper No. 10-05, University of Oslo Faculty of Law Research Paper No. 2011-24, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1601980

Beate Sjåfjell (Contact Author)

University of Oslo - Faculty of Law ( email )

PO Box 6706 St Olavsplass
Oslo, 0130
Norway

HOME PAGE: http://www.jus.uio.no/ifp/english/people/aca/beatesj/

College of Europe - European Legal Studies Department ( email )

Dijver 11
B-8000 Brugge, Oost Vlanderen 10000
Belgium

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