Comparative Analysis of the Corporate Governance Codes of the Five BRICS Countries

Abstract

The objective of the study was to compare the codes of good corporate governance (CG) practices adopted by the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) using the set of practices recommended by the United Nations (UN) as categories of analysis. The present study was exploratory (our comparison of the CG codes of the five BRICS countries in light of the UN recommended practices has no precedent in the literature). Its nature is qualitative because we performed a multiple case study focused on a specific group of countries – BRICS – and used the content analysis technic to analyze and cross data with the literature reviewed. The research is documental because it is based on a review of documents and the literature. Among the five BRICS countries, the Corporate Governance codes of Brazil, Russia and South Africa are those most closely aligned with the recommendations set forth by the UN. It was observed that although these countries are developing their codes of good corporate governance practices focused on the requirements of international investors, corporate governance and codes in these countries are at very different stages. In comparison, the low level of convergence of the Chinese and Indian codes with the UN recommendations suggests a greater concern in those countries with the local context than with international standards.