Recent corporate governance developments in Greece

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the recent corporate governance (CG) developments in Greece. The recent economic crisis of Greece has caused very high mobility, both at a state level by imposing a new Greek regulation in capital market and at a level of associations in Greece by recommending new voluntary codes on CG. Both the new economic conditions in the world economy after the global financial crisis of 2007-2010 and the 2009 economic crisis in Greece provide a valuable opportunity to study the CG and regulatory aspects of CG in Greece. Design/methodology/approach – This study has three objectives, namely, to present the reasons which lead the business community in Greece to reconsider existing CG practices and outline the main aspects; to locate the current CG developments and trends in Greece in the last decade (2002-2011), especially in the light of the recent debate between various voluntary codes that have lately been proposed; and, finally, to highlight the efforts that have been made so far by companies to comply with the expanding body of CG best practices and Greek legislation. Findings – The main finding is that the development of regulatory reforms and practices on CG is a process based on the European Union directives. Practical implications – The improvement of legal, institutional and regulatory framework of CG in Greece can attract new investors. Originality/value – This paper re-examines the value of CG in Greece under the new economic conditions.