Benefit Corporations: Trends and Perspectives

• Mario Stella Richter Jr. ^[1] ; Maria Lucia Passador ^[2] ; Cecilia Sertoli ^[3]
  1. [1] Università di Roma
  2. [2] Università Commerciale “Luigi Bocconi”, Milano
  3. [3] Università Europea di Roma

  Mostrar afiliaciones +
• Localización: The International Handbook of Social Enterprise Law: Benefit Corporations and Other Purpose-Driven Companies / coord. por Henry Peter, Carlos Vargas Vasserot, Jaime Alcalde Silva, 2023, ISBN 978-3-031-14215-4, págs. 213-231
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • This chapter frames the recent rise and vibrant growth of the phenomenon concerning benefit companies in the broader context of the general trend of a re-thinking of corporate purpose, shareholder welfare, shareholder theory, enlightened shareholder value, as well as corporate social responsibility.After tracing this framework, the present study particularly focuses on the necessity (or advisability) of a regulatory initiative regarding benefit companies and, if so, for which purposes. According to the authors, the point is to decide whether it is necessary to pass a law on benefit societies to be able to steer the management of the companies towards pursuing the dual purpose (i.e., a specifically determined social interest after balancing the selfish shareholder interest and that of other parties).In conclusion, the authors believe that, except in those cases where benefit corporations contribute to the creation of shareholder wealth, it is hard to imagine them being used in a numerically meaningful way