The Upcoming Bebchuk-Edmans Debate on “The Promise of Stakeholder Capitalism: Real or Illusory?”

The London Business School Centre for Corporate Governance and the Financial Times will host next week a virtual debate on stakeholder capitalism between Professors  Lucian Bebchuk and Alex Edmans. The debate will be moderated by Gillian Tett of the Financial Times.

Titled “The Promise of Stakeholder Capitalism: Real or Illusory?,” the virtual debate will be held on Tuesday, October 5 2021 at 12:00-13:20 EST. Readers are welcome to watch the debate and  can register to the Zoom session here.

Bebchuk will present the view that, due to the structural incentives of corporate leaders, the promise of stakeholder capitalism is largely illusory and external regulations would thus be necessary to address stakeholder concerns. By contrast, Edmans will argue that if and when stakeholder capitalism is done the right way, it can deliver substantial benefits for shareholders and society.

After they make their initial presentations, Bebchuk and Edmans will subsequently challenge each other on their positions. Gillian Tett will then moderate the Q&A with questions of her own as well as fielding questions from the audience.

Lucian Bebchuk is the James Barr Ames Professor of Law, Economics, and Finance, and Director of the Program on Corporate Governance, at Harvard Law School. His recent co-authored articles on stakeholder capitalism include “Will Corporations Deliver Value to All Stakeholders?” and “The Illusory Promise of Corporate Governance” (with Roberto Tallarita) as well as “For Whom Corporate Leaders Bargain” (with Kobi Kastiel and Roberto Tallarita).

Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance, and Academic Director of Centre for Corporate Governance, at London Business School. He is also the author of the book “Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit.”

Ms. Gillian Tett is Chair of the Editorial Board and Editor-at-Large (US) of the Financial Times, and Co-Founder of Moral Money, which focuses on the world of socially responsible business, sustainable finance, impact investing and ESG trends.

For registration to the Zoom event, please visit here.