Social Enterprises in Asia
A New Legal Form

Advances a comprehensive and viable legal form for social enterprises in Asia; invaluable book for scholars, policymakers, regulators and NGOs.

Ernest Lim (Author)

9781108947756, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 June 2025

214 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.32 kg

'… a seminal work that addresses the pressing need for a dedicated legal framework to support the growth and sustainability of social enterprises in Asia. Lim's comprehensive analysis and practical insights make this book an essential read for anyone involved in the social enterprise sector. By highlighting the unique challenges and proposing viable solutions, the author contributes significantly to the ongoing discourse on how to harness the power of business for social good. This book is highly recommended for policymakers, legal practitioners, academics, and anyone interested in the intersection of corporate law and social entrepreneurship. Its detailed examination of social enterprises' legal, financial, and social dimensions makes it a valuable resource for understanding and advancing this important sector.' Stelios Andreadakis, Asian Journal of Comparative Law

Social enterprises are regarded as a vital solution to the pressing problem of socio-economic inequality and play a crucial role in the delivery of public goods and services. Ernest Lim argues that social enterprises in four leading Asian jurisdictions – India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia – should have a new legal form. This entails advancing a nuanced and comprehensive framework consisting of five criteria: (1) corporate purpose; (2) directors' duties; (3) decision-making powers; (4) reporting, impact measurement and certification; and (5) distribution of dividends, assets, and tax benefits. This invaluable work demonstrates that the existing legal forms in common law Asia, the UK and the US do not properly address the various conflicts of interest affecting social enterprises. An essential read for those interested in understanding and evaluating the laws and regulations on social enterprises, as well as designing and implementing creative ones to protect and promote these important businesses.

1. Introduction and overview
2. Corporate purpose
3. Directors' duties
4. Decision-Making powers
5. Reporting, impact measurement, and certification
6. Distribution of dividends, assets and tax benefits
7. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Sales tax & Customs duties [LNUS], Taxation & duties law [LNU], Small businesses & self-employed [KJVS], Ownership & organization of enterprises [KJV], Entrepreneurship [KJH], Business & management [KJ]