This chapter challenges the shareholder focus of the mainstream use of agency theory, and explores the possibility of redefining agency theory. The aim is to investigate the potential of internalizing environmental externalities of products, although much will be relevant also to social and...

This concluding chapter of the book “The Greening of European Business under EU Law: Taking Article 11TFEU Seriously” finds that, in spite of its importance in reaching long-term EU environmental objectives, the environmental integration principle has been remarkably absent from EU policy...

We are entering a new era in the discussion of how to best regulate companies and markets. Although much energy is currently spent on how to promote growth and “business as usual,” there are inspiring indications of a broader perspective. This is crucial, as getting back on the “business...

In this chapter I undertake a critical analysis of mainstream agency theory, which views corporate boards and by extension senior management as ‘agents’ for shareholders as ‘principals’. With failed assumptions and forgotten caveats, this mainstream theory has informed and reinforced the...