Changing Patterns of Corporate Disclosure in Continental Europe: The Example of Germany

Abstract

This article presents a structural overview of corporate disclosure in Germany against the background of a rapidly evolving European market. It first makes the theoretical case for mandatory disclosure and outlines the standard, regulatory elements market transparency. It then turns to German law and illustrates both how it attempts to meet the principle, theoretical demands of disclosure and how it should be improved. The article also presents in some detail the actual channels of corporate disclosure used in Germany and the manner in which German law now fits into the overall development of the broader, European Community scheme, as well as the contemplated changes and improvements both at the national and the supranational level.

Keywords: corporate disclosure, mandatory disclosure, market transparency, ownership structure, German Law

JEL Classification: G38, K22