Research in this book focuses on the strategic behaviour of the State as a shareholder in businesses, and the implications it has for the other shareholder(s) and business performance. It investigates the institutional characteristics of State-linked and State-owned firms (SIEs & SOEs), in emerging markets using Vietnam as a case study with comparative analysis on China and selected ASEAN countries. In doing so, the book adopts an evidence-based approach to explain the State's role as a shareholder in the different aspects of corporate governance, including CEO appointment, board structure and impact of State ownership on business strategy and performance. It highlights the influence of the State as a shareholder by investigating institutional factors consistent with "path dependence" theory, which postulates that the initial and underlying structure of an economy influences its performance. In addition, the book presents empirical evidence of the dynamics of corporate governance arising from interactions between the State and other shareholders, which has not yet been addressed in the literature, and is distinctive in providing new insights from both qualitative and empirical research on how to successfully navigate the emerging market business environments from the perspective of the State as an "owner-participant". Explaining the theoretical constructs in corporate governance in State-invested firms, empirical research methodologies, and results to draw and validate inferences, the book is comprehensive and provides a practical guide for practitioners as well as a reference for academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students. The new theoretical models proposed integrate traditional political-economic and agency theories, which also underpin tertiary business courses and academic research.

Nga Pham is a research fellow at the Monash Centre for Financial Studies, Monash University, Australia. She is also a member of the Disclosure and Transparency Committee of the International Corporate Governance Network. Before joining Monash University, Nga was the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Tourism and the Executive Director of La Trobe programs at Hanoi University. She was also a consultant to the International Finance Corporation (the World Bank Group) in corporate governance. She is a CFA Charterholder. Kok-Boon Oh has over 40 years of industry experience in corporate finance, international business and academia in the Asia-Pacific Region. He held senior management positions in US and Asian multinational corporations. Kok-Boon has taught at La Trobe Business School. He has co-authored 11 reference books, and over 70 refereed international conference papers and journal articles.