Corporate governance: An examination of U.S. and European models

As the model for corporate governance has emerged in the US after decades of evolution, culminating with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002, there has also been interest in corporate governance models used in other countries. This has particular importance considering the increased competition for capital in international markets with investors wishing to make sound financial decisions by seeking information from companies, regardless of their national registry, that is open, accessible and accurate. This paper examines the framework for corporate governance in the US, its evolution over time, and reviews corporate governance models used in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. A comparison of these models is provided presenting similarities and differences, strengths and weakness, and obstacles to harmonization