Employee Share Ownership Schemes in Australia: A Survey of Key Issues and Themes

U of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No. 129

Partnerships at Work Research Paper Series

33 Pages Posted: 22 Sep 2005

See all articles by Richard Mitchell

Richard Mitchell

Monash University - Department of Business Law & Taxation

Jarrod Lenne

Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne

Ian Ramsay

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne

Date Written: May 2005

Abstract

Employee share ownership ("ESO") schemes have recently been the subject of public policy interest in Australia. Employees owning shares in the company for which they work potentially has a number of ramifications, not least of which is the prospect that these schemes might circumvent the problematic of employees as "outsiders" in corporate governance.

This paper surveys key issues and themes surrounding ESO schemes in Australia. It explores the varied policy rationales for these schemes, noting both broad bipartisan support and a generally limited conception of their fundamental purpose. The paper also outlines the current state of empirical research on their incidence and effects. It is suggested that available information on ESO schemes is patchy and there is no clear picture of Australian practices. In light of an overview of the present regulation of ESO schemes, the paper concludes by highlighting further research questions.

Keywords: employee, share, ownership, ESO

JEL Classification: K31, K22

Suggested Citation

Mitchell, Richard James and Lenne, Jarrod and Ramsay, Ian, Employee Share Ownership Schemes in Australia: A Survey of Key Issues and Themes (May 2005). U of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No. 129, Partnerships at Work Research Paper Series, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=809944 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.809944

Richard James Mitchell (Contact Author)

Monash University - Department of Business Law & Taxation ( email )

Caulfield Campus
Sir John Monash Drive
Caulfield East, Victoria 3084
Australia

Jarrod Lenne

Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne ( email )

Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 5281 (Phone)
+61 3 8344 5285 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://cclsr.law.unimelb.edu.au/

Ian Ramsay

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 5332 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/staff/ian-ramsay

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