Diversity, ESG, and Latent Board Power

46 Delaware Journal of Corporate Law 255 (2022)

U Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2021-37

71 Pages Posted: 7 Sep 2021 Last revised: 8 Aug 2022

See all articles by Gregory H. Shill

Gregory H. Shill

University of Iowa - College of Law; University of Iowa Tippie College of Business; University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute

Matthew Strand

University of Iowa, College of Law

Date Written: September 4, 2021

Abstract

Corporations have traditionally treated shareholder wealth as primary. In recent years, however, cracks in this hierarchy have appeared. An enlargement of purpose is now visible across corporate governance, from the new emphasis on board diversity to the surge in environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") investing, to the growing success of benefit corporations. But in legal terms, corporate policy change requires more—specifically, the approval and participation of the board of directors.

The vast normative and empirical literature on diversity, ESG, and the stakeholder theory of the firm overlooks some key operational questions and tensions, which this Article frames and develops for the first time. How might differently-constituted boards of directors approach tradeoffs between shareholder wealth and social welfare differently? What levers can they reach for to broker competing claims to priority? What constrains them?

Exploring the rising pluralism of corporate purpose through this lens—legally, the one that matters most—suggests the board's powers are far more capacious than is commonly appreciated. As the board's make-up, mission, and voting base broaden, its historical norm of deferring to CEOs may prove unstable. This Article provides a novel account of how boards might recover their latent powers and promote diversity and ESG in corporate law.

Keywords: diversity, corporate governance, ESG, stakeholder, firm, environmental, social, governance, CSR, corporate social responsibility, independent director, independent board of directors, business judgment rule, benefit corporation, Delaware, public companies

JEL Classification: K22, D02, D21, D23, D24, D63, M14

Suggested Citation

Shill, Gregory H. and Strand, Matthew, Diversity, ESG, and Latent Board Power (September 4, 2021). 46 Delaware Journal of Corporate Law 255 (2022), U Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2021-37, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3917521

Gregory H. Shill (Contact Author)

University of Iowa - College of Law ( email )

Boyd Law Building
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

University of Iowa Tippie College of Business

108 Pappajohn Building
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

University of Iowa Driving Safety Research Institute

2401 Oakdale Blvd.
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

Matthew Strand

University of Iowa, College of Law ( email )

Iowa City, IA
United States

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