Agency Theory in the 21st Century

The Institute for Corporate Governance and Innovation Policies (ICGI) and Institute for Transnational Legal Research (METRO) at Maastricht University will host next Friday an interdisciplinary conference on ‘AGENCY THEORY IN THE 21st CENTURY’ at the Faculty of Law in Maastricht with Damla Bos (Maastricht University), David Cabrelli and Ewa Kruszewska (The University of Edinburgh), Joeri Vananroye (KU Leuven), Jean-Philippe Robé (SciencesPo Law School), Constantijn van Aartsen (Maastricht University) an Mieke Olaerts (Maastricht University).

Agency theory – the economic analysis of relationships between agents and principals – is influential and has spread well beyond its economic roots into a variety of disciplines, including law, political science, sociology, corporate governance and finance. It is used by scholars to design efficient institutions, structure individual incentives, prevent corporate corruption and compare institutional arrangements. Reliance on agency theory in these areas has, unfortunately, not prevented corporate scandals and suboptimal rates of trust in business and other institutions. The overarching aim of this conference is to address these issues in an interdisciplinary and international setting.

Programme

10.00-10.30	Registration & coffee
10.30-10.50	Introduction – Damla Bos, LLM – Maastricht University
10.50-11.40	Prof. David Cabrelli and Dr. Ewa Kruszewska – The University of Edinburgh “The Limits of Agency Theory”
11.40-12.30	Prof. Joeri Vananroye – KU Leuven “The Blind Spots of Agency Theory in Corporate Finance Law”
12.30-13.20	Lunch Break in room B0.006
13.20-14.10	Dr. Jean-Philippe Robé – SciencesPo Law School“Being Done with Milton Friedman”
14.10-15.00	Constantijn van Aartsen, LLM – Maastricht University“Agency Theory in the 21st Century: Legitimate, Reductionist and Overapplied”
15.00-15.30	Coffee break
15.30-17.00	Roundtable discussion
17.00-17.30	Closing – Prof. Mieke Olaerts – Maastricht University