Reconceptualising Corporate Compliance

Anna Donovan is Lecturer at the Faculty of Laws, University College London, UK.

• PART ICONTEXT1. Capitalism’s Compliance Crisis I. Why Narrative MattersII. The Consequences of Creativity: What Harm is it Really? III. Recontextualising Compliance: From Subject to System 0IV. Scope of the Book V. Structure of the Book VI. Conclusion 2. Creative Compliance in Practice I. The Rise and Rise of Creative Compliance II. Loopholes in the Law: A Focus on Tax Avoidance A. Towards a Judicial Anti-Avoidance Doctrine? B. The 2012 Tax Scandals III. The (Current) Limitations of Legislation IV. Conclusion 3. Constructing Compliance: Freedom to Choose? I. The Social Construction of (Creative) Compliance A. Social Constructionism: Driving Divergent DefinitionsB. Intra-Group Convergence: Habitualisation and Isomorphism C. The Implications of Compliance as a Social Construct II. The Meaning and Influence of NormsA. Defining ‘Norms’ B. The Behavioural Impact of Norms C. The Interaction between Descriptive and Injunctive Norms III. The Homogeneity of Corporate Norms A. The Expressive Function of Law B. The Dominance of the Shareholder Wealth Maximisation Norm IV. The Function of Norms: Free to Choose? A. Norms and Freedom of Choice: Taxes and Subsidies B. Influencing Norms to Influence Behaviour V. Conclusion 4. Motivating Compliance: Freedom to Act? I. Deterrence-Based Compliance: Motivating ‘Amoral Calculators’ A. It’s Called Capitalism … Again B. Explanatory Limitations of a Deterrence-Based Approach C. Regulatory Relationships and Practical Challenges D. Retaining a Role for Deterrence? II. Legitimacy-Based Compliance A. Legitimacy-Based ComplianceB. Procedural Justice: The Legitimacy of the Originating Authority C. Procedural Justice: The Legitimate Exercise of Authority D. The Duality of Authority III. Legitimising Creative Compliance: Dissonance Reduction and Over-Rationalisation A. The Duality of Norms B. The Salience of Corporate Norms C. Cognitive Dissonance and Over-Rationalisation IV. The Compliance Degeneration Cycle A. Stage One: Initial Drivers of Creative Compliance B. Stage Two: Undermining Legitimacy C. Stage Three: Illegitimacy and Creative Compliance V. Conclusion PART IITHE CASE FOR REFORM5. Compliance, Predictability and the Market Order I. (Mis)Conceptions of the ‘Liberty Tradition’ 2A. Perceptions of Self-Interest and Illegitimate Government Interference B. The Emergence of ‘Everyday’ Liberalism II. Defining (and Constraining) Freedom within the Classical Tradition A. Freedom of the Individual B. Limited State Interference C. Dispelling the Paradox: Individualism and Cooperation III. In Defence of the Market Order A. The Market as a Conduit of Knowledge B. Conveying Knowledge Through the Price Mechanism C. Polycentric Systems and Market Order IV. Complex Systems and Spontaneous Order A. The Architecture of Order B. Predictability, Order and the Rule of Law V. Conclusion 6. The (Ostensible) Equality Paradox: Privilege and Obligation I. Defining ‘Equality’ before the Law A. The Rule of Law: Precepts and Conceptions B. Equality of Law, not Outcome C. The Rule of Law: Between Thick and Thin Conceptions? II. Constraining ‘Lawful’ Conduct A. Equality as a Meta-Legal Principle B. A Positive Obligation to Maintain Equality before the Law? III. Inequality and Legal Privilege IV. Conclusion PART IIIBARRIERS TO REFORM7. A Person without Personality: The Fiduciary Ladder of Corporate ‘Personhood’ I. Separate Personality, Limited Liability and the Reification of the Corporation II. Redefining the Beneficiary: From ‘Company’ to ‘Market’ A. Shareholder Wealth Maximisation as a Proxy for Rentier Shareholders B. Distorting Fiduciary Duties; the Changing Status of the ‘Company’ Beneficiary III. The Corporate Fiduciary Ladder A. The Structure of the Fiduciary Ladder B. The Psychological Consequences of the Fiduciary Ladder C. Responding to the Fiduciary Ladder IV. Contrasting Other Actors V. Conclusion PART IVREFORM8. It is Called Capitalism: Towards a New Market Integrity I. Responsibility, Freedom and the Law A. Market Order, Integrity and Freedom B. Freedom, Choice and Responsibility II. Radical Integrity A. Towards a More Radical Integrity B. A Roadmap for Reform III. Conclusion

This book is written in such a way that will appeal to graduate students as well as academics and practitioners – it is clear, concise and precise and well structured around key themes. At a critical juncture in corporate governance studies generally, and compliance specifically, this book brings some much-needed optimism to the field. I came away from the read with a much more positive outlook than prior. I advise you to do the same.