The Shareholder Value Principle: The Governance and Control of Corporations in the United States

In recent decades, maximization of shareholder value has been a dominant business principle in the United States. This article reviews sociological accounts about the emergence, diffusion, and reality of the shareholder value principle. Although mainstream research in law and economics on corporate governance embraces the shareholder value principle and provides theoretical justifications for it, sociologists consider the shareholder value principle to be a product of specific economic, political, and ideological environments. Based on sociological research that reveals normative and political foundations of the shareholder value principle, I argue that the shareholder value principle is far from hegemonic in the contemporary United States. Indeed, faced with shareholder primacy, corporations and top executives have adopted various strategies, such as perfunctory conformity and symbolic acquiescence. The result is a highly volatile and contested system of corporate governance today.     

Manager-subordinate Relationship in Cross-cultural Organizations: The Case of Japanese Subsidiaries in the United States

Abstract  The paper examines the perceptions of Japanese expatriate management held by American employees, whilst isolating the factors influencing such perceptions. An analysis of the survey data from 388 American eniployees has revealed that they view Japanese co-workers as loyal to the organization, competent, trustworthy, somewhat friendly, patient and fair on the one hand; but as secretive, hard to understand, untrusting of others and somewhat indecisive on the other. It has been found that the local employees with higher ranks are likely to perceive the expatriate managers more negatively than the ones with lower ranks; and that the local employees who have worked longer tend to view the expatriate managers more negatively than those who have worked for shorter periods. Further, such perceptions are significantly affectd by position in the organization and the length of contact. These findings can have important implications for human resources management policies in Japanese multinational corporations.     

Business and politics in the United States and United Kingdom

Theory and Society - A central objective of the business mobilization of the late 1970s and early 1980s in both the United States and Great Britain was to restore company profits to levels of an...     

Tax and inequality in the United States

Taxation impacts individuals' lives in significant, and sometimes unequal, ways. While much sociological research examines factors that contribute to economic inequality and policy development, the relationship between inequality and tax policies remains understudied in sociology. In this article, I review extant research highlighting the ways in which taxation is an important site of inequality in the United States. I focus on how some of the most valuable tax policies related to work, marriage, investments, and homeownership contribute to economic inequality with class, gender, and race/ethnicity variation.     

Police militarization in the United States

In 2014, police responses to protests and riots in Ferguson, Missouri, prompted an unprecedented level of news coverage on the phenomenon of police militarization. Though the increased attention to police militarization and governmental programs thought to facilitate it (e.g., the 1033 Program) may give the impression that police militarization is a recent phenomena, social scientists have been documenting trends in police militarization for decades. This article provides an overview of the social science research literature on police militarization, starting with a discussion of a theory informed conceptualization of police militarization. We next discuss the major normative debates that have guided research on police militarization. We then review the empirical literature that focuses on the methodological approaches and findings of extant work on police militarization. Finally, we close with an overview of the state of the literature and suggestions for future research. Our major suggestion for future work is to consider the dimensions of police work that police militarization can occur in while continuing to engage with the normative debates of previous scholars so as to improve the overall quality of police work and public safety in the United States.     

Early Marriage in the United States

Despite drastic changes in the American family, a significant minority of Americans marry early. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N= 14,165), this study evaluates the prevalence and antecedents of early marriage in the United States. The results indicate 25% of women and 16% of men marry before age 23, and early marriage varies widely across a number of characteristics. Individuals who marry earlier are more likely to be from disadvantaged families, from conservative Protestant or Mormon families, to value their religious faith more highly, to have a high‐school diploma but a lower educational trajectory, and to cohabit before marriage. Scholars and policymakers interested in marriage should pay adequate attention to understanding and supporting these individuals’ marriages.     

Indigenous Religions in the United States

Delving into the life and legacy of Henry VIII is both complex and captivating. People seem compelled to learn more abut his critical contributions and controversial conduct that range from the significant to the scandalous. Reflecting on the history of the world would be incomplete without investigating the events and escapades associated with Henry VIII, whose impact of 500 years ago resonates through today's society and into the future through literature, music, politics, and religion. To view the many facets of Henry VIII, classroom teachers and their students are encouraged to use graphic organizers to provide easy-to-understand visualizations. Eight types of graphic organizers engage learners in student-centered activities that help students make meaning from and show relationships among the diverse attributes of Henry VIII. When combined, the eight graphic organizers equip learners with valuable tools to construct a holistic examination about the history of Henry VIII.     

Divorce Law in the United States

The purpose of this paper is to review recent changes in divorce law in the United States. Divorce grounds, distribution of property, spousal support, and child support are each discussed with- in the context of the following: the effects of no-fault legislation, the trend toward gender neutrality and equality, and child support re- form. The paper is concluded by discussing the role of divorce law in our culture.     

Aging in the United States Today

Summary

As the demographics of aging change in the United States, the number of persons over the age of 65 will continue to grow. By 2030, one in every five persons will be over the age of 65. Several factors are important when considering the reality of these demographic changes. First, successful aging, given new medical technologies, is more probable today than it was for our parents and grandparents. Second, the range of diverse populations within the aging communities has become recognized. Third, generational differences impact who cares for the elderly. Fourth, baby boomers, who will soon turn 65, will likely have a huge impact on society. And lastly, spiritual matters are important as we approach and enter old age.     

Housing Policy in the United States

No abstract available for this article.