Future Directions

This chapter discusses briefly some unresolved problems we anticipate will loom large in future corporate governance research. Firstly we ask is the UK an optimal, or even a desirable, size of democratic state on which to design a system of corporate governance? Here the EU “in/out” referendum slated for 2017 will resolve much uncertainty. Secondly we point to the role and rights of whistle-blowers in exposing and thus righting poor governance. Such actions often arise either from selfless actions or personal ambition/spite. We ask if a more systematic framework of whistle-blower enabling leglisation is now necessary. We also suggest the following may be fruitful areas for future research: the impact of a binding vote on executive pay; the success of calls for increased board diversity and the further evaluation of private equity buyouts and exits.