Editorial: Corporate governance and COVID-19 in the context of coming drastic changes

Abstract

Corporate governance faces a new set of challenges in light of COVID-19. Corporations would have to reduce their finance by assuming more debt and providing dividends for shareholders. This will lead to a stable financial environment. Corporations might choose among diverse interests that would include a mix of government interests and concentrated ownership. Also, as a result of increase in the use of technology, there will a shift in the bargaining power between capital and labor as corporations will have a wide spectrum in hiring employees worldwide. As we have seen over the past few years, there is increasing pressure to limit foreign investment in strategic sectors and focus on national security screening for foreign corporation accruing domestic firms. This trend is expected to continue as a result of COVID-19 as countries are trying to shore up their economics against external shocks. Moreover, there would be an increase in government ownership in corporations and other types of controls. The presence of the COVID-19 health crisis is likely to push the debate toward stakeholder perception of the corporation, shifting away – over the next few years – from shareholders’ interests. There could be even more focus on employees and the role they play in the corporation. Employees are expected to act as active players in running the affairs of the corporation. Overall, these topics are addressed in the current issue of Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition.