Research in areas of corporate governance involving Indian companies has not been substantial, compared to that in its emerging market counterparts such as China. However, a recent study that has been commissioned by the IFC Global Corporate Governance Forum in consultation with SEBI and the National Institute for Securities Markets (NISM) is likely to bridge the gap.
Here are the excerpts from IFC News:
“As part of this collaboration, a business investor dialogue is being organized to facilitate discussions between the private sector, domestic and international investors, and the Securities Exchange Board and to shed light on that state of governance in Indian companies. Issues to be explored include the effectiveness of various governance structures, the role of the board, disclosure, and enforcement.
The event will give participants an opportunity to make recommendations for improving corporate governance among enterprises. Discussions around research on the state of corporate governance in India’s listed companies will be conducted by Professor Vic Khanna of the University of Michigan, Professor Bernard Black of the University of Texas, and Professor N. Balasubramanian of the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.
The ongoing research includes surveys of 500 publicly traded companies, representing various sectors in the country’s six largest cities. This research is supplemented by publicly available information. The data analysis seeks to identify the connections between various aspects of governance, company performance, and profitability.
The event aims to identify challenges facing companies, offer possible measures for improvement, and provide an opportunity for local and international business leaders and investors to share views and experiences on the investment climate in India. It also aims to generate discussions and obtain policy recommendations from an assembly of local business representatives and investors.”
Two of the professors conducting this study have already researched the effect of corporate governance norms on stock prices of Indian companies, a matter we covered in an earlier post on this blog.
