Milieux d'affaires et politiques publiques

At the turn of the 2010s, corporate governance rules were tightened and multiple directorships declined. Does this signal of a weakening of corporate power? This book argues that, rather than diminishing, corporate influence is growing. Drawing on the sociology of elites, organisations and expertise, it analyses the reshaping of the corporate community and investigates the 'metabrokers', corporate leaders who advise government officials. Using a methodology that combines prosopography, social network analysis and qualitative research, the book sheds light on how corporate elites contribute to policymaking, through fully institutionalised channels. These elites are involved from the moment public problems are framed via think tanks, right through to policy making within advisory bodies. Changes in corporate governance have coincided with the increasing privatisation of policy planning, thereby strengthening the influence of private interests at the heart of state action.