公司自治限度研究

【作者】 王怀勇；

【导师】 李昌麒；

【作者基本信息】 西南政法大学 ， 经济法学， 2008， 博士

【摘要】 公司自治限度是公司制度研究中重大而又不可回避的议题,亦是公司自治理论研究的逻辑结果与重要保障。事实上,就公司自治限度而言,它所涉及的绝非如一般人观念中属于单纯的国家干预的问题,而是有其十分复杂的理论知识背景。然而,西方学者既往关于公司自治限度的理论探讨,直接的文献资料并不多见,特别是针对公司自治限度的多维考察,规范分析尚显不足;至于国内,由于公司自治真正进入学术界的研究视野才只是近年来的事,因此,关于公司自治限度的研究,已有的成果还仅仅局限在公司自治与国家干预的范畴之内而少有突破。相关理论研究的缺失,直接影响了我国公司制度的结构性改造,也造成了我国公司自治实践与法律实施背离与脱节的无奈现实。同时,也正是由于对公司自治限度的理论认知不足,2005年中国《公司法》的制定与颁行,虽然在学者的共同努力下,较大程度地反映了现代公司法的基本精神,但是,其对公司自治限度这一根本性的问题仍然没有给予终局性的合理解决。因此,为了弥补公司自治限度理论研究的缺憾,也为了能够给中国公司自治的实现乃至现代企业制度的推进在指导思想与具体制度设计等方面提供有效的智力支持,本文尝试从经济法的视角对这一命题进行研究与思考。本文是站在充分肯定与支持公司自治的立场上,主要运用多学科的分析方法、比较研究的方法、逻辑分析的方法以及实证分析的方法,对公司自治限度所涉及的诸多相关问题进行探讨,并力图就中国公司自治限度的理论研究与制度实践的现状进行揭示、解释与前瞻。全文共分六章。从逻辑上说,大致可以分为三部分:第一部分是基础篇(第一、二章),主要是对公司自治的一般原理做出阐述,在此基础上,尝试从理论基础这个层面论证公司自治限度存在的合理性与必要性;第二部分是本论篇(第三、四章),主要是对公司自治限度的理论探讨,即从公司自治的内生限度与外发限度两个方面进行理论的分析;第三部分是实证篇(第五章),主要是结合中国的具体实际,对我国公司自治限度的理论研究与制度完善进行前瞻。各章具体内容分述如下:第一章——“公司自治的基本理论”试图解读“公司自治是什么”这一问题。鉴于“公司自治”是一个争议颇大的概念,其内涵与外延在不同学者的心中大相径庭。为了给公司自治限度研究的展开提供一个客观的分析的逻辑起点,本章就公司自治的一些基本问题进行了初步探讨。首先,是对公司自治思想渊源的介述。本文认为,公司自治与私法自治有着一脉相承、不可分割的渊源关系,公司自治实质上就是私法自治在公司制度领域的具体表现。为此,本章对公司自治的思想渊源进行了历史的回顾与理论的解答。其次,本章对公司自治的基本内涵予以了揭示,指出:现代意义上的公司自治应当是:在市场经济条件下,公司作为市场主体依法有进行自我经营、自我决策、自我约束、自我规范、自我管理、自担风险的权利,其主要涉及两个领域:公司内部权力与利益的分配关系;公司与外部之间的良性互动关系。在此基础上,从公司设立、公司章程、公司经营、公司解散等几个方面对公司自治的具体形式予以了分析。再次,是对公司自治的行为主体的考察与审视。本章认为,现代公司自治的行为主体逐渐趋向于以董事会为中心、股东会为辅助的公司自治模式,在此基础上,本章对董事会与股东会的权限划分进行了分析性的评价。最后,本章探讨了公司自治的实现方式,通过比较研究的方法,分别从董事会与股东会的视角来解读了现代公司如何实现自治。第二章——“公司自治限度的理论基础”考究的是“公司自治为什么存在限度”这一问题。公司能够实现意思自治是其私法主体自由权利的体现,但是公司自治并不表示其自由的实现可以不受任何的限制与约束。诚然,任何一种学术理论的研究与诠释都不可能仅仅根据某个单一的、绝对的因素或原因去加以论证,因此,从多学科的维度出发,或许会获得更强的说服力与认同感。基于此认知,本章从经济学基础、伦理学基础、法哲学基础、社会学基础等多个层面对公司自治限度存在的合理性与必要性进行了阐释与论证。第三章——“公司自治的内生限度”探讨的是“公司自治内部的限制性力量”这一问题。由于公司本质上是一个自利性组织,主张公司自治并不代表放任公司自治,而是强调公司自治必须具有一定的限度。本章主要对公司自治的内生限度进行探讨,着重从公司内部利益主体的协调(包括董事信义义务的建构、控股股东滥权行为的规制以及股东有限责任与债权人利益保护)、公司文化的影响两个方面展开论述:一是公司自治的正当性评价依赖于公司内部利益的妥协与平衡,没有公司内部利益主体协调这一内生限度,将摧毁公司当事方共存共荣的联系基础,极大减损公司自治的价值,无法给公司自治的维系注入永久的活力;因此,公司自治内生限度的设定,其目的旨在实现公司内部的各方利益主体之间的良性互动,提升公司总体的经济效益。二是公司文化作为公司运行的潜在干预性力量,是企业哲学、企业精神和企业行为方式的内在统一,也是公司自治的限度因素。本文认为,公司文化与公司自治是相互联系,相互作用的。公司自治通过约束公司内外部的关系,为公司文化的发展与巩固提供前提基础,并借助具体的制度措施,实现公司长久的营运与发展。但同时,公司文化一旦形成,便会通过规范公司成员的行为模式,为公司自治的合理性与正当性奠定理论根基,并借助抽象的指导思想,提升公司交易的效率。第四章——“公司自治的外发限度”讨论的是“公司自治外部的限制性力量”这一问题。本章认为,公司作为社会经济活动中最基本的主体元素和主导力量,其经济活动往往并不仅仅只是单纯的营利活动,也会涉及到具有社会整体性的活动。正是基于公司在社会经济活动中的重大影响,对其行为与自由的限制也应当将其放置于整个社会的范围来加以规范与约束,从而在实现公司自治的同时也能够实现社会整体利益的均衡发展。具体而言,本章分别从公司自治与国家、社会、行业三个方面具体论述了公司自治外发限度的理论。首先,现代各国总是自觉不自觉地运用多种手段对公司运行实施间接或者直接的干预;无论国家经济干预的具体方略是否是专门针对公司而提出,它们对公司自治都会产生或多或少的影响。因此,本章从经济法的视域界定了国家干预权的基本内涵,并从立法、行政与司法三个环节对国家干预公司自治进行了具体论述与阐明。其次,考虑到公司在过去几百年时间里已发展成为社会中的一类基本分子,难免受到来自于社会的各种影响与约束,因此,本章基于“公司社会责任是公司自觉的一项道德义务”的认知,对公司社会责任的缘起、公司社会责任的正当性评价以及公司社会责任对公司自治的限制性影响进行了论证。最后,鉴于公司自治还受制于行业协会的介入与影响,因此,本章对行业协会的基本理论、行业协会的优点与缺陷以及行业协会对公司自治的限制进行了分析。第五章——“中国公司自治限度的理论研究与制度完善之前瞻”是专门针对我国公司自治限度观念与制度的一些思考。本章基于对中国经济现实的回应以及理论服务实践的逻辑需要,首先对中国公司自治及其限度的理念认知进行了考察,指出针对中国公司自治及其限度的理念认知,我们应当摒弃原有的强调限度而轻视自治的观念,肯定自治的本位价值,强调限度的存在只是为了公司能够更好的自治,其目的不在于一味地限制公司经营决策自由化的实现,而是为了在实现社会整体利益均衡发展的前提下充分发挥公司这种市场主体形式的能动性。其次,本章对中国公司自治内生限度与外发限度的理论研究与制度实践进行了深入分析,并对未来我国公司自治限度学术研究与制度完善的方向作出了展望。更多还原

【Abstract】 Limit of corporate autonomy is an indispensable part of corporate governance research; it is also a logical conclusion of the theoretical research of corporate autonomy. In fact, limit of corporate autonomy is not merely a question of state intervention; it has its complex theoretical background. However, the existing theoretical research from overseas academia on the limit of corporate autonomy has been focused on relations between shareholders and the corporation while multi-perspective study and analysis on this topic is insufficient. And this topic did not even come to the academic domain in China until recently; achievements in this field have been limited to the realm between state intervention and corporate autonomy while breakthroughs are rare. The lack of theoretical research has a direct impact on the structural reform of domestic corporate governance; it also results in the embarrassing fact that our corporate autonomy practices are decoupled from law enforcement Meanwhile, because of insufficient understanding of this topic, the Corporate Act of 2005 failed to thoroughly address the problem despite the fact that this act reflects modern corporate legislation’s values. Thus, in order to fill the blank of theoretical research and provide academic support for realization of corporate autonomy in China, this dissertation aims at studying this issue from the perspective of economic law.This dissertation’s standpoint is to support corporate autonomy; it covers a number of issues related to corporate autonomy through multi-disciplinary, comparative, logical and empirical analyses; it also tries to disclose the reality of corporate autonomy in China before it goes further to provide explanation and forecasting. There are six chapters which are grouped into three parts in this dissertation. The first part (chapter 1 and 2) is the basics, which gives explanation to the general principles of corporate autonomy and demonstrates theoretically the reasonableness and necessity of corporate autonomy. The second part is the main part (chapter 3 & 4), which covers theoretical studies, i.e. analyzing the limit of corporate autonomy both internally and externally. The third part (chapter 5) is empirical analysis, which combines China’s specific situations with academic studies, and gives forecasting for academic research and systematic improvement in China.The following is a more detailed description of each chapter’s content.Chapter one—Basic theories of corporate autonomy aims at explaining the question of what is corporate autonomy. Because corporate autonomy is a quite arguable concept; different scholars has very different explanations for its intension and extension. In order to provide a starting point for the study of corporate autonomy’s limits, this part covers basic questions of this concept. It first describes the origin of corporate autonomy. This dissertation supports the opinion that corporate autonomy’s origin is closely linked to prinzip der Privatautonomie; in essence, corporate autonomy is a reflection of prinzip der Privatautonomie in corporate system. This chapter looks backward to examine the origin of the thinking of corporate autonomy. This chapter then tries to reveal the basic content of modern corporate autonomy, and points out: corporate autonomy is a corporation as a market principal’s rights of self-decision-making, self-operation, self-governance, self-ruling and self-risk-taking. And these rights cover two major areas: internal distribution of power and interest and the interaction with external parties. Based on this definition, this chapter analyzes specifics from several aspects of a corporation, including corporate charter, operation and dissolution. Then this chapter examines the behavioral principal of corporate autonomy and concludes that the modern pattern of corporate autonomy is centered on board, combined with shareholders’ meeting. Finally, this chapter studies the path to acquire corporate autonomy, i.e. how to realize autonomy from the perspective of corporate board and shareholders’ meeting.Chapter two—Theoretical basis of limit of corporate autonomy aims at exploring the existing reason of limit of corporate autonomy. It is a reflection of right of freedom in corporate system that corporation could decide anything on the basis of prinzip der Privatautonomie. But it is not said that there is no limit or regulation when corporation is realizing its freedom. As a matter of fact, we could not study or explain any theoretical research only by a single and absolute factor or reason. So, only start from multi-disciplinary method, can we get more persuasive conclusion. On the basis of this definition, this chapter examines and studies the reasonable and necessary existing of limit of corporate autonomy from economic base, ethic base, legal base and social base.Chapter three—the interior limits of corporate autonomy aim at studying the interior regulation from corporate autonomy. Although corporation is a self-interest body in nature, we don’t indulge corporate autonomy without limits during emphasizing corporate autonomy. In fact, there are some limits in corporate autonomy. This chapter mainly examines the interior limits of corporate autonomy, especially studies from the harmony of the interest’s body in corporate and the reflection of corporate culture. The harmony of the interests bodies in corporate covers the construction of the fiduciary obligation of the boards, the regulation of the major shareholders and the protection of the creditor. In completely, this chapter aims at two aspects. One is that the reasonable estimation of corporate autonomy depends on the harmony of interior interests of corporation. Without the harmony of interior interests of corporation, the relation basis of the development between the participators of corporate will be destroyed; it also will destroy the value of corporate autonomy, and could not supply the everlasting power for corporate autonomy. In accordance with this reason, the definition of the limit of corporate autonomy, aims at the realization of the reasonable development between the interior interests body of corporate and the enhancement of economic progress of corporate. The other is that as a potential interfering power of corporate governance, the corporate culture is the interior consolidation of the philosophy of corporation, the spirits of corporation and the behavior of corporation. This chapter points out that the corporate culture relates with corporate autonomy tightly and closely. Through regulating the interior and exterior relation of corporation, corporate autonomy supplies the precondition basis for the corporate culture, and with the concrete system measures, it could realize the everlasting development of corporation. At the same time, after the corporate culture comes into being, corporate could regulate the behavior model of participators of corporation, in order to construct the reasonable and legal base of corporate autonomy, and with the abstract guiding ideas, it could advance the efficiency of dealings of corporation.Chapter four—the exterior limits of corporate autonomy aims at studying the exterior regulating from corporate autonomy. This chapter points out: corporation is the basic body and power in the social and economic activities. The economic activities are not only aiming at interests, but also cover some social sphere. It is the important reflection of corporation in social and economic activities that we should regulate and limit the behaviors of corporation under the background of the whole society. Only by this way, we could realize the harmonious development between the corporate autonomy and social whole interests. In completely, this chapter individually examines the exterior limit of corporate autonomy through the relationship between corporate autonomy and state, society, trade association. Firstly, every country always uses many direct or indirect measures to interfere with the corporate governance nowadays. Although these concrete measures of economic intervention sometimes does not aim at corporation, these measures still inflect corporate autonomy more or less. So, this chapter study from the perspective of economic law, defines the basic intension of state intervention, and completely explores the state intervention on corporate autonomy from legislation, administration and jurisdiction. Secondly, considering .that corporation has grown one of the basic body in society during last several hundred years, corporate autonomy is being reflected by some factor from society necessarily. So, on the basis of this idea—"corporate social responsibility is a self-conscious and moral obligation of corporation ", this chapter studies the idea source of the corporate social responsibility, the reasonable estimation of corporate social responsibility and the reflection of corporate social responsibility on the corporate autonomy. Finally, because corporate autonomy is reflected by the trade association, so, this chapter makes analysis on the basic theory of the trade association, the merits and defects of the trade association, and the limits of corporate autonomy from the trade association.Chapter five—Prospective look upon the future researches and legislation in China aims at some ideas about the theoretical researches and legislation in China of corporate autonomy. This chapter, considering the replying for the economic actuality in China and logical necessity of theory function, firstly examines the idea of corporate autonomy and its limit in China, and points out that on the basis of analyzing, we should change our idea that limit is more important than autonomy. Then we should accept the basic value of autonomy, and emphasize the existence of limits is for the better autonomy, and its main purpose is not to limit the realization of the freedom of corporation, but to active the behaviors of corporation under the background of the harmony of social whole interests. Secondly, by examining the theories and legislations of limit of corporate autonomy, this chapter takes a prospective look upon the future researches and legislation in China, on the basis of that reviewing the existed theory and legal framework.更多还原