Singapore Company Law and the Economy: Reciprocal Influence Over 50 Years

(2019) 27(1) Asia Pacific Law Review 14-38

NUS Law Working Paper No. 2018/001

NUS - EW Barker Centre for Law & Business Working Paper 18/01

Singapore Management University School of Law Research Paper No. 37

25 Pages Posted: 25 Jan 2018 Last revised: 2 Jul 2020

See all articles by Vincent Ooi

Vincent Ooi

Singapore Management University - Yong Pung How School of Law; Singapore Management University - Centre for AI & Data Governance

Cheng Han Tan

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) – School of Law; Centre for Public Affairs and Law; Centre for Chinese and Comparative Law

Date Written: January 23, 2018

Abstract

A strong reciprocal relationship has existed between Singapore Company Law (“SCL”) and the economy since Independence in 1965. Swift Parliamentary responses to economic events and successful implementation of Government policies has made it possible to clearly attribute cause and effect to statutory amendments and economic events in turn, proving the reciprocal relationship between the two. The first theme of this paper seeks to explain the fundamental characteristics of SCL that have resulted in such an unusually strong reciprocal relationship: the 1) Autochthonous nature of SCL; 2) Responsive nature of legislation; and 3) Government control at multiple levels of implementation. The second theme examines the interplay between 1) Domestic political and economic events; and 2) Foreign laws and economic events in influencing legislative responses over time and their impact on SCL. This will be done through an examination of four key areas of SCL over fifty years of Singapore economic history.

Keywords: Company Law, Corporate Law, Legal History, Regulation, Insolvency, Singapore, Singapore History, Corporate Governance

Suggested Citation

Ooi, Vincent and Tan, Cheng Han, Singapore Company Law and the Economy: Reciprocal Influence Over 50 Years (January 23, 2018). (2019) 27(1) Asia Pacific Law Review 14-38, NUS Law Working Paper No. 2018/001, NUS - EW Barker Centre for Law & Business Working Paper 18/01, Singapore Management University School of Law Research Paper No. 37, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3108212 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3108212

Vincent Ooi (Contact Author)

Singapore Management University - Yong Pung How School of Law ( email )

55 Armenian Street
Singapore, 179943
Singapore

HOME PAGE: http://vincentooi.com

Singapore Management University - Centre for AI & Data Governance ( email )

55 Armenian Street
Singapore
Singapore

Cheng Han Tan

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) – School of Law; Centre for Public Affairs and Law; Centre for Chinese and Comparative Law ( email )

Room 6101,Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Build
83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong

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