Editorial

Citation

Kirkbride, J. and Howells, G. (2007), "Editorial", Managerial Law, Vol. 49 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ml.2007.01049daa.001

Editorial

In this volume, we are excited by the original contributions of the authors. The articles support the mission of the journal in presenting studies on the role of regulation within the business environment and, in particular, the international business environment.

Lillian Miles and Bruno Dercon separately consider the role of corporate governance and regulatory intervention in two very different and demanding environments. Lillian focuses on the need for and actual developments on Board and director controls in Japan and contrasts developments with the dominant Anglo-American approaches to interventions in this area. The context for demanding change in Japan is not the scandal induced Anglo-American approach but rather the need to ensure an internationally competitive and, perhaps, responsible Japanese corporate position. How, and if, this is to be achieved is considered in Lillian's study.

In contrast, Bruno Dercon considers the Asian market where it has been reported that the lowest levels in the world of governance law enforcement can be found. Bruno considers the environmental changes and influences in Indonesia and offers both a new research methodology to this area and suggests an emerging taxonomy of business priorities to influence law and regulatory developments in this emerging and changing economy.

Francisca van Dijken-d'Oliveira sets out to provide evidence of the value or otherwise of the corporate acting socially responsible. Behind this study is the international proliferation in legislating for corporate social responsibility and compliance. Francisca considers the fundamental issue of whether such behaviour is reflected in enhanced market value and with that whether the effective regulator is not the law but the markets (and associated exchanges) – the "real" area of influence on the level and extent of corporate behaviour in this area.

All three contributions seek to provide the reader with evidence of change and influence on business practice and regulation and, it is hoped, stimulate further collections of evidence and study to support an understanding of the international markets for business activity.

James Kirkbride and Geraint Howells