Board accountability in corporate governance

Within corporate governance the accountability of the board of directors is identified as a major issue by governments, international bodies, professional associations and academic literature.　 Boards are given significant power in companies, and as a consequence it is argued that they should be accountable for their actions. Drawing on political science, public administration, accounting, and ethics literature, this book examines the concept of accountability and its meaning in the corporate governance context. It examines the rationale for making boards accountable, and outlines the obstacles and drawbacks involved in providing for accountability.