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Corporate governance in Brazil

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  • Black, Bernard S.
  • de Carvalho, Antonio Gledson
  • Gorga, Érica

Abstract

We examine the corporate governance practices of Brazilian public companies. We identify areas where their governance is relatively strong and weak. Many firms have small boards, comprised entirely or almost entirely of insiders or representatives of the controlling family or group. Even some very large firms have no independent directors. Formal board processes are limited. Audit committees are uncommon, but many firms use a substitute body--the fiscal board--which does not require that the firm have independent directors to staff the audit committee. Financial disclosure is mixed. Some firms voluntarily provide English language disclosure, but many do not provide cash flow statements or consolidated quarterly financial statements. Brazilian corporate law often provides limited protection to minority shareholders, but the Brazilian stock exchange, Bovespa, provides optional governance rules which go beyond the legal minimums. These optional rules have become increasingly popular with Brazilian firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Black, Bernard S. & de Carvalho, Antonio Gledson & Gorga, Érica, 2010. "Corporate governance in Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 21-38, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:11:y:2010:i:1:p:21-38
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    2. Caixe, Daniel Ferreira, 2022. "Corporate governance and investment sensitivity to policy uncertainty in Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PB).
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    5. Ortas, Eduardo & Moneva, José M. & Salvador, Manuel, 2012. "Does socially responsible investment equity indexes in emerging markets pay off? Evidence from Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 581-597.
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    8. Black, Bernard S. & de Carvalho, Antonio Gledson & Sampaio, Joelson Oliveira, 2014. "The evolution of corporate governance in Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 176-195.
    9. Pellicani, Aline Damasceno & Kalatzis, Aquiles Elie Guimarães, 2019. "Ownership structure, overinvestment and underinvestment: Evidence from Brazil," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 475-482.
    10. Costas Siriopoulos & Athanasios Tsagkanos & Argyro Svingou & Evangelos Daskalopoulos, 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment in GCC Countries: The Essential Influence of Governance and the Adoption of IFRS," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, June.
    11. Eduardo Schiehll & Paulo Terra & Fernanda Victor, 2013. "Determinants of voluntary executive stock option disclosure in Brazil," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 17(2), pages 331-361, May.
    12. Black, Bernard S. & de Carvalho, Antonio Gledson & Gorga, Érica, 2012. "What matters and for which firms for corporate governance in emerging markets? Evidence from Brazil (and other BRIK countries)," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 934-952.
    13. Bhagat, Sanjai & Malhotra, Shavin & Zhu, PengCheng, 2011. "Emerging country cross-border acquisitions: Characteristics, acquirer returns and cross-sectional determinants," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 250-271, September.
    14. Colombo, Jéfferson A. & Caldeira, João F., 2018. "The role of taxes and the interdependence among corporate financial policies: Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 402-423.
    15. de Carvalho, Antonio Gledson & Dal'Bó, Filipe & Sampaio, Joelson, 2021. "Determinants of corporate governance practices in Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    16. Dutt, Tanuj & Humphery-Jenner, Mark, 2013. "Stock return volatility, operating performance and stock returns: International evidence on drivers of the ‘low volatility’ anomaly," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 999-1017.
    17. Garay, Urbi & González, Maximiliano & Guzmán, Alexander & Trujillo, María Andrea, 2013. "Internet-based corporate disclosure and market value: Evidence from Latin America," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 150-168.
    18. Al-Malkawi, Husam-Aldin N. & Pillai, Rekha & Bhatti, M.I., 2014. "Corporate governance practices in emerging markets: The case of GCC countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 133-141.
    19. González, Maximiliano & Guzmán, Alexander & Pombo, Carlos & Trujillo, María-Andrea, 2012. "Family firms and financial performance: The cost of growing," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 626-649.
    20. Esqueda, Omar A. & O’Connor, Thomas, 2020. "Corporate governance and life cycles in emerging markets," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    21. William Mbanyele, 2020. "Do Busy Directors Impede or Spur Bank Performance and Bank Risks? Event Study Evidence From Brazil," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    22. Balasubramanian, N. & Black, Bernard S. & Khanna, Vikramaditya, 2010. "The relation between firm-level corporate governance and market value: A case study of India," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 319-340, December.
    23. Marwan Mansour & Hamzeh Al Amosh & Ahmad Yuosef Alodat & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Mohammed W. A. Saleh, 2022. "The Relationship between Corporate Governance Quality and Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Capital Structure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    24. Ajaz Ul Islam, 2020. "Do Shareholder Activism Effect Corporate Governance and Related Party Transactions: Evidences from India?," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 13(2), pages 165-189, December.

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