The latest edition in the Principles of Corporate Finance dynasty, the 14th edition continues in its tradition of showing how theory applies to the very practical problems and decisions faced by financial managers. Looking at what financial managers do and why, the book aims to give readers a solid understanding of theory so that they know what questions to ask when times change and new problems need to be analyzed, eventually standing as a reference and a guide to help them make financial decisions, not just study them. This new edition welcomes Alex Edmans to the author team, whose global authority and expertise in corporate governance, responsible business and behavioural finance have been invaluable in bolstering coverage of these topics. A new chapter is entirely dedicated to the subject of balancing shareholder value with promoting the interests of all stakeholders, the potential conflicts inherent in this, and how a responsible business should behave. There have been several changes to chapter structure as well as expanded discussion of issues that have grown in importance since the previous edition including behavioural finance, and financial innovation driven by AI, big data and cloud computing. It has also grown to take a more international focus, to bring in more information and perspectives on major developing economies such as China and India, and looking at how financing and governance systems differ around the world. The new edition retains and builds on the pedagogical features of previous editions, with new chapter content summaries, new self-test questions interspersed at key points, and a raft of 'Beyond the page' examples available online through links in the text. Click here to view the sample chapter

A Financial Times Book of the Year 2020! Should companies be run for profit or purpose? In this ground-breaking book, acclaimed finance professor and TED speaker Alex Edmans shows it's not an either-or choice. Drawing from real-life examples spanning industries and countries, Edmans demonstrates that purpose-driven businesses are consistently more successful in the long-term. But a purposeful company must navigate difficult trade-offs and take tough decisions. Edmans provides a roadmap for company leaders to put purpose into practice, and overcome the hurdles that hold many back. He explains how investors can discern which companies are truly purposeful and how to engage with them to unleash value for both shareholders and society. And he highlights the role that citizens can play in reshaping business to improve our world. This edition has been thoroughly updated to include the pandemic, the latest research, and new insights on how to make purpose a reality.

A ground-breaking book that reveals why our human biases affect the way we receive and interpret information

Our lives are minefields of misinformation. Stories, statistics and studies lie to us on a daily basis. Not only this but, as Professor Alex Edmans reveals, our brains lie to us too. He argues that we need to acknowledge and understand the role that our own human biases play in interpreting and digesting the information that we consume. It's only when we do, that we can actively resist being manipulated, and make informed decisions that improve our lives.

A Financial Times Book of the Year 2020! What is a responsible business? Common wisdom is that it's one that sacrifices profit for social outcomes. But while it's crucial for companies to serve society, they also have a duty to generate profit for investors - savers, retirees, and pension funds. Based on the highest-quality evidence and real-life examples spanning industries and countries, Alex Edmans shows that it's not an either-or choice - companies can create both profit and social value. The most successful companies don't target profit directly, but are driven by purpose - the desire to serve a societal need and contribute to human betterment. The book explains how to embed purpose into practice so that it's more than just a mission statement, and discusses the critical role of working collaboratively with a company's investors, employees, and customers. Rigorous research also uncovers surprising results on how executive pay, shareholder activism, and share buybacks can be used for the common good.

Top pay has risen much faster than average pay in the past 20 years. Today there's widespread public concern about the apparent excesses of some pay deals in the corporate sector - although people are more forgiving of the rewards to entrepreneurs, entertainers and sports stars. This collection of essays puts various aspects of this debate under the spotlight. It looks at the role of shareholders in awarding executive pay, examines how pay data are produced and used, and asks whether Long-Term Incentive Plans have created unnecessary inflation of executive pay. It also looks at high pay in the public sector and in areas where government funding plays a major role - such as universities and charities. And it investigates the disparity in pay between men and women among very high earners.