The Purpose of the Corporation offers a timely and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most fundamental questions in corporate law and governance: what is the corporation truly for?

In this insightful work, Professor Fabian Ajogwu presents a nuanced, multi-layered framework for understanding corporate purpose—moving beyond the traditional focus on shareholder profit to examine how legal structures, economic theories, governance expectations, and real-world business practices intersect.

Set against the backdrop of global financial crises, evolving ESG debates, and increasing demands for corporate accountability, the book critically assesses whether modern claims of “purpose-driven” business reflect genuine transformation or mere rhetoric. Through comparative analysis and real-world case studies—from major international corporate failures to emerging market experiences—the book highlights the risks of misaligned corporate purpose and the governance challenges they create.

Bridging theory and practice, this book is an essential resource for practitioners, regulators, policymakers, and scholars seeking to understand and shape the future of corporate governance. It provides practical tools to evaluate whether corporate purpose is meaningfully embedded in decision-making—or simply stated without substance.