Reassessing the convergence thesis. An analysis of the 2018/2019 Corporate Governance Codes of the United Kingdom and Germany

The dissertation critically examines the convergence thesis in corporate governance, using the 2019 German Corporate Governance Code (GCGC) and the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code (UKCGC) as focal points. By comparing these two codes, which represent the UK’s shareholder value model and Germany’s stakeholder model, the study investigates whether a unified corporate governance model is emerging. Findings suggest that globalization is driving a trend toward an Anglo-American governance pattern in Europe, highlighting significant shifts in corporate governance practices.